Proviso First for School Board D209, the political action committee backing an incumbent slate of candidates in the upcoming April 4 election, reported another $1,000 contribution, March 22, and $4,000 more on March 23, bringing the committee’s total reported funding to just over $16,000 with under two weeks to go until Election Day.

This latest contribution, from a Chicago man named Michael Alvarez, is the latest example of an outside individual getting involved in the Proviso school board race. Earlier in March, two other individuals, a police officer from Chicago and a JP Morgan loan officer from Glendale Heights each gave thousands of dollars to Proviso First. 

The other committee, Proviso Together — which comprises four challengers, and is supported by board members Claudia Medina and Ned Wagner of Forest Park — has reported just $2,000.

Michael Alvarez is employed at Alvarez and Associates, an LLC registered to an Erie Street Chicago address, according campaign finance disclosure documents filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Alvarez could not be reached for comment by press time.

On March 23, Proviso First also reported an additional $4,000 in contributions, bringing their total funds to over $16,000 with under two weeks to go until the April 4 election. This latest batch of contributions includes $1,000 from each of the Proviso First candidates — Daniel Adams, Teresa McKelvy, Brian Cross and Jacqueline Walton — to support their own campaigns. 

Brian Cross, a District 209 school board candidate up for re-election and treasurer of Proviso First, did not return calls for comment by press time.

Proviso First was created on Jan. 19. Teresa McKelvy and Cross, both sitting Proviso 209 Board of Education members up for re-election, are listed as president and treasurer, respectively. McKelvy is currently the school board president.

The Proviso Together and Proviso First slates were both created in January. As a result, each committee does not have to file a quarterly disclosure report until April 1, just days before the election, according to Illinois State Board of Election rules. Contributions under $1,000 are listed on quarterly disclosure reports.

All disclosures listed for both committees as of March 23 are Schedule A-1 contributions, meaning each donation is over $1,000 and must be reported within five business days. Schedule A-1 contributions given within 30 days before an election — any day after March 5 — must be reported within two business days.