Meet Donna Hopwood, Subdistrict 4 candidate for District 186 board of education

Editor's note: This is part of a series of articles previewing candidates vying in the April 4 consolidated election. Early voting is underway.

Donna Hopwood admitted she is unlike any other candidate in the Subdistrict 4 race for the District 186 board of education.

"I'm not part of the system, the establishment, the system that's running everything," said Hopwood, a first-time office seeker who works for the Illinois Department of Revenue. "I'm different. I'm not bought and paid for (by any political party)."

Hopwood, who has a son and a daughter and a stepson, said part of the reason she jumped into the race was that she didn't like what she saw going on in District 186 schools.

"I think it's very important that somebody stand up for the (school) children," Hopwood added. "I think somebody needs to stand up and put the power back in the parents' hands so that they have some say and some power over what (their children) learn. I think the government's got way too much control over some of the things happening in the schools.

"I can fight to have a say and have the parents have a say over what kind of curriculum the children are learning."

At a forum for school board candidates sponsored by the Springfield Education Association earlier this month and in an interview with The State Journal-Register, Hopwood was critical of high school graduation rates which range from 55% at Lanphier High School to 81% at Springfield High School.

Hopwood also blasted a move earlier this year by the district that dropped the number of required graduating credits from 26 to 24, although schools districts of the same size require 24 credits or fewer.

"It's ridiculous," Hopwood said. "(We need to) require more for our children's future."

She faces opponents Ken Gilmore and Jeff Tucka.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

Donna Hopwood

Age: 61

Occupation: Works for Illinois Department of Revenue Federal State Exchange Unit. Formerly owned two small businesses.

Family: Son, daughter; stepson

Political experience: First-time candidate

Education: Attended Lincoln Land Community College

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Hopwood launches first-time candidacy in District 186 school board race