Barbara Velez News Today

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With the final ballots counted, three incumbents and a newcomer continue to lead in the race for four seats on the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board of education.

A week of counting mail ballots has changed the pending results in some of Cook Countys April 4 elections.

With few exceptions, candidate slates that pushed for "parental rights" and leaned into culture war issues failed to make waves Tuesday night in politically charged races for suburban school boards.

Four incumbents who often are split on the issues hold leads early Tuesday night in the 10-person race for four seats on the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board of education.

Some races for Northwest suburban and Lake County municipal offices and school boards have generated controversy -- and more than a little public attention -- ahead of Tuesdays election.

Two years ago, school board races across the suburbs drew long lines of candidates galvanized by mask mandates and remote learning. This election cycle, school board hopefuls from Wheaton to Palatine have refocused their energy on heated debates over library books, lessons on racism and the role of parents in deciding what is taught in classrooms.

The race for four available seats on the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board of education is down to 10 active candidates after one announced her withdrawal Thursday, a day after a League of Women Voters forum.

With significant financial support from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Democratic Party is getting involved in contests for school and library board seats this spring to combat what officials call "really extreme candidates."

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211s controversial adoption of the states revised sex education curriculum last November remains a point of criticism from some in the community and a matter of debate among the 11 candidates running for the board of education.