Although the ballot may be empty, plenty of interest in Peoria School Board District 150’s vacant seat is circulating in the city’s second and third districts.

In comparison with larger political races throughout the district and state, the Peoria District 150 School Board election may seem small, but it’s impact on schools, family and the community is extensive. The Peoria Public School District 150 Board works to provide a rich learning environment that centers on students. Aside from meeting developmental needs, the board works together to ensure that individual differences among students are recognized and all learning styles are honored. Building on the strengths of each student, the Board sets high expectations for all in an atmosphere that is nurturing and respectful. The goal of the Peoria Public School System involves creating a systematic learning approach by addressing basic skills through broad themes and student projects that emulate real-life experiences. Students are prepared to enter the world through a focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings needed to prepare them to be members of society. The District 150 School Board is dedicated to ensure that students are provided an environment where they can learn well, perform at their best and ultimately succeed in school, on the job and in life.

Who’s Running?

Four candidates have filed to run for the Peoria District 3 school board seat—and all of them are write-ins. Jody Pitcher, the leader of the Peoria 9-12 project, Janice K. Deissler, a former professor at Illinois Central College as well as a former District 150 School Board member with ten years of service; Phillip E. Cline, a former hospital CEO; and Rick Cloyd, an employee of Caterpillar Inc. and former vice president of Keystone Steel & Wire will run for the District 3 seat in the April 5th election to serve a five-year term. District 3 covers the area north of Forrest Hill Avenue.

Pitcher, 35, an advocate of decreased taxes and less government spending, heads up the conservative movement initi ated in 2009 that promotes honesty and family values as well as a belief in God. The first to file as a candidate, Pitcher says by filing she is performing her “civic duty” to serve Peoria. Pitcher says she wants to “give children the opportunity to excel” in the classroom and in life on a national and global scale.

A 72-year-old army veteran and former hospital administrator in Wisconsin, Iowa and Alaska, Cline decided to run as a write-in after discovering no one else had filed petitions. A part-time teacher at ICC, he serves on the board of the South Side Mission, Common Place and tutors at the Tri-County Urban League.

Cline says he is running to show support for the school district.

Having served on the District 150 School Board from 1994-2004, Deissler, 70, said she always possessed a keen interest in the district and felt it was the right decision to file as a write-in candidate after learning that no one else had turned in petitions.

Born and raised in Peoria, Cloyd, 62, works in Caterpillar’s strategy and business development division and also serves as a volunteer with Carl Cannon’s ELITE Youth Outreach. Vying for what he calls a “healthy and accountable public school system,” Cloyd says students, parents and taxpayers play a large role in the impact of local schools.

“I’ve seen first-hand what great things happen when young people receive support and guidance and learn that respect is a two-way street. They get to experience the life-changing benefits of courteous language, respectful conduct and appropriate appearance.”

In addition to his involvement with ELITE, Cloyd has served on the Greater Peoria YMCA board and helps as a volunteer with several civic and charitable organizations, including South Side Mission and Rebuilding Together.

Who’s Running in District 2?

General Parker will NOT be running for the District 150 school board this spring after Peoria County Judge Scott Shore ruled he cannot run for the 2nd district due to his previous two felony convictions. The Judge ordered the Peoria City and County Election Commissions to remove Parker’s name from the ballot. Parker’s past convictions bar him from holding office under Illinois’ election code and also render him ineligible to run for the school board seat. Parker, who represented himself in court, says he doesn’t agree with the decision but does not know yet whether he will appeal.

Incumbent and current school board President Debbie Wolfmeyer, 57, as well as V.R. Mike Mitchell, 74, a retired owner of a video production business, are set to be on the ballot. Wolfmeyer is a retired executive secretary at District 150 who first served on the board in 2006. In 2008, she served as the board’s vice president and was elected as president of the board in 2009.

District 2 covers largely the East Bluff and West Bluff, along with a portion of Central Peoria south of Forrest Hill Avenue.

Facing the Deficit

The winner of the school board election will, no doubt, have his work cut out for him. Peoria District 150 is facing yet another budget deficit. The district ran a 6-point-2 million-dollar deficit during the fiscal year that ended in June of 2010 and could lose approximately 6 million dollars in federal funding next year. And despite an audit that showed education fund spending decreased by approximately 3 million dollars, this fund still ran a deficit—a deficit that could mean layoffs for teachers if more cuts aren’t made.