Lawrence "Larry" Bury

Lawrence "Larry" Bury was a candidate seeking an at-large seat on the School District U-46 Board of Education in Illinois in the general election on April 7, 2015. He lost the election.

Biography

Bury was born and raised in New Jersey but has lived in Bartlett since 1997. He works as a deputy director for a government council that represents 45 communities. He has served on both the legislative committee and the executive committee of the U-46 Citizens Advisory Council (CAC). Bury earned both his bachelor's degree in sociology and his master's degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He and his wife have four daughters who have either graduated from the district or currently attend school in the district.

Elections

2015

See also: School District U-46 elections (2015)

Five of the seven at-large seats on the School District U-46 Board of Education were up for general election on April 7, 2015. Four of the seats were up for election to four-year terms. One was up for election to a two-year term.

The seats of incumbents Maria Bidelman, Amy Kerber, Linda Campos-Moreira, Traci D. Ellis and Jennifer Shroder were on the ballot. Bidelman, Kerber and Campos-Moreira did not file to run for re-election. The race for the four four-year term seats featured incumbents Ellis and Shroder and the following six candidates: Lawrence "Larry" Bury, Phil A. Costello, Susan E. Kerr, Ed Novak, Arisleyda Taylor and Jeanette Ward. Two candidates, Cody Holt and Kai Rush, ran for the two-year term seat. Brian Sauvageau filed to run for a four-year term seat but withdrew his candidacy in February 2015. Because of this, his name did not appear on the ballot.

Ellis won re-election to a four-year term. Challengers Ward, Kerr and Costello also won four-year term seats. Holt defeated Rush to win the two-year term.

Results

School District U-46, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2015
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Traci D. Ellis Incumbent	14.6%	6,155
	Nonpartisan	Jeanette Ward	14.3%	5,991
	Nonpartisan	Susan E. Kerr	14.3%	5,992
	Nonpartisan	Phil A. Costello	14%	5,867
	Nonpartisan	Ed Novak	13.8%	5,796
	Nonpartisan	Lawrence "Larry" Bury	11.8%	4,979
	Nonpartisan	Jennifer Shroder Incumbent	8.8%	3,706
	Nonpartisan	Arisleyda Taylor	8.4%	3,531
Total Votes				42,017
Source: Kane County Clerk, "2015 Consolidated Election Contest Results," accessed April 22, 2015, DuPage County Election Commission, "Election Summary Report: 2015 Consolidated General," accessed April 22, 2015, Cook County Clerk, "Suburban Cook County Election Results," accessed April 22, 2015

Funding

School board candidates in Illinois are only required to file campaign finance reports if they accept contributions or make expenditures in excess of $5,000 in a 12-month period.

Bury reported $1,300.00 in contributions but no expenditures to the Illinois State Board of Elections, which left his campaign with $1,300.00 on hand in the election.

Endorsements

Bury was endorsed by the following organizations and public officials:

• Daily Herald
• Incumbent Jennifer Shroder
• Concerned Voters of the Fox Valley
• The Latino Vote Committee
• Elgin Teachers Association
• District U-46 Transportation Union
• State Representative Anna Moeller (D)
• State Representative Fred Crespo (D)
• State Senator Michael Noland (D)
• Hanover Park Mayor Rod Craig
• Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod
• Schaumburg Village President Al Larson
• Retired Bartlett Village President Cathy Melchert
• Streamwood Park Commissioner Bill Wright

Campaign themes

2015

Bury highlighted the following issues on his campaign website:

“	Being the parent of two U-46 graduates and two current students has helped shape my perspective as to what needs to be accomplished to ensure that all 40,487 children in our school district receive the best educational opportunities possible. Over 15 years of professional public policy experience combined with my graduate and undergraduate studies have provided me with the analytical tools, professional skills and ability to solve complex problems that will be vital for addressing many of the challenges facing U-46. Direct access to many of our district’s highest performing education professionals, involved parents and community members will help me develop a comprehensive understanding as to how the decisions of the Board of Education and our school district’s administrators impact the learning environment in our classrooms. U-46 is at a Crossroad U-46 is at a crossroad. On one hand, many of our school district’s students and education professionals are experiencing a multitude of successes that exemplify the best of what U-46 can accomplish. On the other hand, many parents and students feel that U-46 is not currently addressing their academic needs. I have heard from parents who have withdrawn their children from underperforming U-46 schools to enroll them in private schools. Others have decided to home-school after the district failed to meet their child’s needs. Still more have been affected by the uneven rollout of recent education initiatives. A lack of consistent academic progress throughout the entire school district has produced a high level of frustration toward U-46. Sadly, far too many parents and students are focused on the shortcomings of U-46 instead of the potential for success that it offers. We must choose the right path in order to improve educational achievement in U-46 and make parents and students proud to be a part of the school district. Fortunately, with the departure of the last superintendent, we have a unique opportunity to choose the right path to Move U-46 Forward. To provide the opportunity for academic success every student deserves, we need a Board of Education that has the ability and diversity of professional and personal experience to identify a new superintendent to lead our district forward. We need a Board of Education with determination and vision to provide the new superintendent with direction, guidance, oversight and feedback to ensure that educational achievement is our District’s top priority. We need a Board of Education devoted to ensure that our students become successful and productive contributors in the 21st century economy. What Must be Done to Move U-46 Forward We must recognize that the 21st century economy requires students to be able to comprehend complex instruction, integrate modern technology and apply basic skills to real life situations. We must be capable of educating not just the doctors, scientists, engineers and business leaders of tomorrow but also the health care professionals, educators, mechanics, skilled laborers and other workers vital to supporting our modern economy. We must incorporate new and higher learning standards that reflect the needs of the modern economy. We must provide parents the tools and resources they need to fully support the education of their children. We must ensure that as these higher standards and new tools are introduced, our education professionals are provided the proper planning and training for successful implementation. We must expand the diversity of learning environments we provide by building upon our successes such as the five high school academies, SWAS/IGNITE and dual language learning programs. Educating our children is the most important investment we can make as a society. We cannot afford to shortchange our future generations. I will roll up my sleeves on behalf of U-46 students and parents to: Ensure all U-46 students have the opportunity to achieve their full academic potential and become productive contributors in the 21st century economy. Set the direction for improving educational achievement in U-46. Identify and hire the most qualified person to be the next superintendent and provide the new superintendent with the clear direction, constructive feedback and support necessary to fulfill their mission. Partner with our education professionals to build upon their expertise and expand innovative educational opportunities available to our students. Provide our education professionals the resources they require to successfully accomplish their mission. Move U-46 Forward.	”
—Lawrence "Larry" Bury's campaign website (2015)

Recent news

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Lawrence "Larry" Bury - Google News

See also

• School District U-46, Illinois
• School District U-46 elections (2015)
• Hot tub Gatorade, turnout in Peoria and the Wisconsin state budget... (April 8, 2015)

External links

Suggest a link

• School District U-46
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook page
• Twitter page