The School Board of McHenry Elementary School District 15 is comprised of seven members elected by the community, to fulfill its powers and duties on behalf of the District. These powers and duties include the authority to adopt, enforce, and monitor all polices for the management and governance of the District’s schools, as well as adopting the annual budget, approving expenditures, and work in partnership with the Superintendent. To reach the school board please email them at boe@d15.org.

Learn more about our Board of Education Members and review the mandatory and non-mandatory training and development activities that were completed by the board members below. When the training was provided by the Illinois Association of School Boards, the acronym "IASB" follows the listed activity.

Mr. Chad Mihevc, President

First Elected: April, 2021
Current Term Expires: April, 2025
Current Committee / Liaison Assignments: Ex Officio member of Curriculum, Finance, Facilities, and Personnel
Personal/Professional Background: Chad Mihevc is a managing member of the law firm of Flores & Mihevc, LLC, and concentrates his practice on commercial real estate, business law, and estate planning. Chad earned his J.D., M.B.A., and B.A. (Bronze Tablet; Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Chad has served as a youth leader, coach, and member of several community nonprofit organizations, and has also served as Alderman for the City of McHenry and as President and board member of McHenry High School District 156. Chad and his wife, Jenny, live in McHenry and have three children: Joe, Mary Beth, and James.
Completed Training: Open Meetings Act, Professional Development Leadership, Performance Evaluation Reform Act, Basics of Government - Completed May, 2021

Mrs. Lindsay Turner, Vice President

First Elected: April, 2021
Current Term Ends: April, 2025
Current Committee / Liaison Assignments: Curriculum Chairperson and Personnel Committee Member
Personal/Professional Background: Lindsay Turner is an Iowa farm girl who was transplanted to McHenry in 2010. Mrs. Turner has been in the field of education her entire adult life starting as a 3rd grade teacher and continuing into reading resource, instructional coaching and administration. Mrs. Turner is currently in the EdD program at Aurora University, focused on Educational Leadership. She hopes to complete her dissertation and graduate by May 2025. Mrs. Turner's two children have attended D15 since Kindergarten and she has been so impressed by the education and care they receive within our wonderful district. Mrs. Turner joined the Board of Education first to give back to the school district that she entrusts her kids to, but also to offer an educator's perspective on the many topics that are presented to the Board of Education. 
Completed Training: Basics of Government - Completed June, 2021
Professional Development Leadership Training (PDLT) and Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) Training for School Board Members - Completed July, 2021
Open Meetings Act (OMA) Training for School Board Members  - Completed May, 2021

 
Mrs. Rachel McDonnell, Secretary

First Elected: April, 2021
Current Term Ends: April, 2025
Current Committee / Liason Assignments: Curriculum Committee Member and Finance Committee Member
Personal/Professional Background: Mrs. McDonnell is a Registered Nurse.
Completed Training: Open Meetings Act, Professional Development Leadership, Performance Evaluation Reform Act, Basics of Government - Completed June, 2021

Mr. Patrick DeGeorge

First Elected: July, 2021
Current Term Ends: April, 2027
Current Committee / Liason Assignments: Personnel Committee Member and Building & Facilities Committee Member
Completed Training: Professional Development Leadership Training (PDLT) and Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) Training for School Board Members, Basics of Governance, Open Meetings Act (OMA) Training for School Board Members - Completed July, 2021

Mr. Matthew Stauner

First Elected: April, 2017
Current Term Ends: April, 2027
Current Committee / Liason Assignments: Finance Chairperson, Building & Facilities Committee Member and Transportation Committee Member
Completed Training: Professional Development Leadership Training, Performance Evaluation Reform Act Training for School Board Members IASB, Open Meetings Act Training for School Board Members - Completed October, 2016

Mrs. Jennifer Synek

First Elected: April, 2021
Current Term Ends: April, 2025
Current Committee / Liason Assignments: Finance Committee Member and Chairperson of Personnel Committee
Personal/Professional Background: Jennifer Synek manages an Emergency Consolidated Dispatch Center for 16 police & fire agencies including the City of McHenry.
Completed Training: Professional Development Leadership Training, Performance Evaluation Reform Act Training for School Board Members - Completed July, 2021

 

Mr. Arne Waltmire

First Appointed: September 2024
Current Term Ends: April 2025
Current Committee / Liason Assignments: Curriculum Committee Member and Finance Committee Member
Personal/Professional Background: Mr. Arne Waltmire has a Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University, 1975 and a Masters of Education in Teaching and Leadership from Saint Xavier University, 1999. Mr. Waltmire taught high school Industrial Technology (Automotive, Metals, Woods and Small Engines) for 33 years. Of those years, 18 of them were at Crystal Lake South High School. His wife, Diane, and Mr. Waltmire have lived in the McHenry area for 21 years and have three adult sons. Mr. Waltmire has served as Sunday school co-superintendent at his local church and now serves on the Board of Trustees and as Finance Chair. He has worked part-time for the National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS) as an arbitrator on new car warranty disputes for 26 years. Mr. Waltmire listens to both sides, sorting out the facts and coming to a logical decision. Also, in the last two years, he has been a member of 3 panel arbitration boards with NCDS where they read the written auto warranty disputes. They have a group discussion, and then they vote to reach a group decision.  
Completed Training: Open Meeting Act On-line Training, Office of the Attorney General, Professional Development- Leadership Training Completed June, 2019 

School Board meetings are established in compliance with Illinois School Code, the Open Meetings Act, and Public Policy.  It is required that board discussion be held in public and that the taken action in public. However, The Open Meetings Act provides authorized exceptions to this requirement, which allows the Board to meet privately in closed session when appropriate.

The School Board encourages and appreciates citizen interest in meetings of the Board of Education.  There is a place at the beginning of the agenda especially set aside to hear comments from visitors.  Persons wishing to address the Board may make written requests to the superintendent in advance of the regular meeting, by contacting the District Office at 779-244-1000, or by indicating their name and topic they wish to address on the form located at the entrance of the meeting.  The speaker should give his/her name, address, and limit his/her comments to three minutes.  The board asks that courtesy and respect to others be shown.  The use of specific individuals’ names, slanderous or derogatory comments about anyone cannot be permitted.  The Board President has the right and may declare out of order a speaker and terminate any remarks which are not relevant or which have been previously addressed on the same subject.

If issues raised during Public Comment require answers to questions, gathering information, or further discussion, the Board may refer the matter to the superintendent.  They may also set a later time to meet with constituents.  Whenever possible, you are encouraged to seek information or action first from the teacher or principal.  Going directly to the source of the problem will, in many cases, clear up misunderstandings and bring the desired result.  If the issue cannot be resolved at the school level, please contact the superintendent’s office for assistance. 

 All Illinois school board members must receive training in professional development leadership (P.A. 97-8) and the Open Meetings Act (P.A. 97-504). Mandatory training will also be required after the new teacher evaluation requirements are implemented in each school district. For additional information see Board policy 2:120, Board Member Development.