Skala defeats Snow for D-158 board seat

Travis Haughton — thaughton@nwherald.com Mike Skala (center) checks results as they come in with Michael Fleck, chairman of Skala's political action committee (left), and school board member Kevin Gentry Tuesday night at Paul Troy's home in Lake in the Hills. Skala was unofficially elected to a two-year seat on the District 158 school board, and Troy was unopposed for one of four open four-year seats. (Travis Haughton ())

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HUNTLEY – Mike Skala was the victor Tuesday night in the single contested race for the District 158 school board.

Skala won a two-year term over candidate Larry Snow by 1,013 votes in McHenry and Kane counties. Skala garnered a total of 2,308 votes, while Snow won 1,295 votes, according to unofficial results.

“I think the community won tonight,” Skala said Tuesday. “I’m proud of the fact I was able to be the person that the community supported, but ultimately, I believe the community won tonight. I think the community will be rewarded with a better school district now.”

Skala, 37, said he thought the new school board would begin efficiently working together with the administration to determine some of its pressing issues, such as continuing the budget process.

Both Skala and Snow were incumbents on the school board seeking another term.

“It’s been a privilege to bring educational and financial truths to our school district on behalf of students the last four years,” Snow said. “It really has been a privilege to be able to do it.”

Snow, 58, had supported independent board member oversight and serving as a taxpayers’ watchdog. He recently used his management and financial experience to help lead the board’s negotiations for a new teachers contract.

Snow was elected to the school board in 2005.

Skala, who first was elected to the school board in 1997, has helped increase academic offerings for gifted students, among other accomplishments.

Last month, Skala traveled to Springfield with exiting board member Tony Quagliano and Superintendent John Burkey to speak at a public hearing about pending legislation that could help the district recoup $8 million in misappropriated state aid.

An additional District 158 school board race for four four-year terms were uncontested. Incumbents Shawn Green and Kim Skaja and newcomers Paul Troy and Don Drzal won those seats Tuesday.

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