Candidates operating for the Summit Hill Elementary District 161 Board addressed the latest closing of two elementary faculties at a discussion board Wednesday, noting that you will need to enhance communication and group relations and heal the division that it induced.
Ten candidates are in search of 5 board seats within the April 1 election.
Incumbent Katie Campbell is operating in opposition to Melissa Ryan for a 2-year time period.
Incumbents Stefanie McCleish, Jim Martin and Amy Berk are operating for reelection and are challenged by Adrian Chavez, Patrick Oliphant, Ronnie Petrey, Cicily Gant and Invoice Curtin for 4 4-year seats.
Curtin is operating as an unbiased candidate whereas the others have joined collectively on slates.
Campbell, McCleish, Martin and Gant operating collectively, and Berk, Oliphant, Petrey, Chavez and Ryan have additionally joined as a staff.
.Most candidates have backgrounds and careers in schooling. District 161 serves areas of Frankfort, Mokena and Tinley Park.
The race has generated important curiosity, partially as a result of December 2023 choice to shut Frankfort Sq. Elementary College in Frankfort and Arbury Hills Elementary College in Mokena after 15 consecutive years of declining enrollment. The board reaffirmed that call in February 2024 after mother and father circulated a petition with greater than 1,100 signatures and pleaded with the board to vary its thoughts.
Campbell, McCleish and Martin stated Wednesday they needed to make a tough choice, however the closure was based mostly on enrollment knowledge and finally improved the funds for the district.
Martin, a retired instructor and administrator, pointed to close by districts which function fewer buildings. District 161 misplaced 1,300 college students in a 10-year span, he stated.
“We have been beginning to pay extra for bricks and mortar than we have been for college students’ schooling,” Martin stated. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
He stated the district wants to tug everybody collectively and transfer ahead.
Campbell, a instructor, stated the scholars’ transitions to their new faculties has been profitable and the district can proceed to make tweaks so all college students really feel at residence of their new buildings.
Some candidates, together with Berk, who voted in opposition to closing the colleges, stated group suggestions wanted to be thought of.
“Whereas fiscal accountability is essential, my illustration bringing the human aspect is simply as essential,” stated Berk, a instructor. “College students and employees will not be merely analytics or numbers. Our group as a complete deserves empathy, respect and to be heard.”
Ryan, an authorized public accountant, stated she believed there was an absence of transparency and communication. The choice seemed to be made with out enter from taxpayers or lecturers, she stated.
“I really feel prefer it was made simply in haste,” Ryan stated.
Petrey, a instructor, stated when a “sizzling subject” comes up, there needs to be time for the group to supply suggestions earlier than any essential votes are taken.
Oliphant, an engineer, stated the board wants to revive belief.
“I feel that the occasions that occurred within the final 18 months are clear indicators of areas that must be fastened in belief between native authorities and the individuals,” he stated. “Homes can’t be constructed on sand. We should work to repair the muse locally.”
Chavez, a regional account supervisor, stated a greater tradition begins with higher communication.
Some incumbents stated closing the colleges has put the district in a greater monetary place, and candidates addressed instructor negotiations because the union contract expires in 2026.
McCleish, a instructor, stated the district has a 95% retention charge, which is indicative it stays a sexy place to work. Collective bargaining ought to embrace not solely salaries however working situations, she stated.
“We have now among the lowest class sizes in all the neighboring districts,” McCleish stated. “I feel the choices that we’ve made has set us on an excellent monetary path in order that we will proceed to assist our lecturers and pay them not solely a good wage however a extremely, actually good wage that they deserve.”
Gant, who operates a baby care heart, stated aggressive salaries will appeal to and retain high quality lecturers. An funding within the lecturers will mirror within the college students, she stated.
Curtin, a former Kankakee County Educator of the Yr recipient, stated lecturers deserve a good, residing wage that displays their expertise, experience and coaching.
“Finally I imagine budgets mirror values, and considered one of my values is that our educators are our most essential asset and should be compensated that method,” stated Curtin, who leads a nonprofit that works with lecturers and directors to enhance faculties.
Curtin stated he wish to introduce a path to management roles for lecturers.
Candidates additionally mentioned matters of variety, fairness and inclusion, with many noting the time period DEI has been politicized.
Oliphant stated the time period has change into so divisive that he asks residents to elucidate what it means to them when requested about his emotions on the marketing campaign path.
“I’m a agency believer that each group member of ours has an equal alternative to provide their youngsters the very best schooling attainable … and that may be a proper,” he stated. “That isn’t a DEI initiative. That isn’t a political time period; that may be a proper for everyone. I actually assume that we will lead with actions and never phrases. We don’t must name this a DEI factor. We are able to name it giving the very best alternatives and the very best sources to our kids and our educators and hiring the very best individuals for the job.”
Martin stated he likes to vary the time period DEI to “entry.”
“It doesn’t matter what your financial or racial background is, entry is what we need to present to all of our college students,” he stated. “Should you give college students entry and permit them to try, the DEI items will handle themselves. There shall be variety within the packages they’re in. There shall be fairness amongst college students and there shall be inclusion of all college students in all varieties of packages.”
Gant stated she believes DEI is essential, which encompasses particular schooling, social-emotional studying and gifted schooling.
“My purpose is to create an inclusive district the place all college students are given the instruments to succeed,” Gant stated.
Curtin agreed individuals could perceive DEI in numerous methods. He stated fairness is required to pay particular consideration to English language learners or college students in particular schooling who aren’t exhibiting the identical stage of feat. Inclusion additionally means serving to mother and father and taxpayers perceive district choices, noting that not everybody can attend a board assembly.
“Can we discover methods to extend entry,” he stated.
Petrey stated if the district isn’t together with everybody and giving them what they want, then it’s failing.
Ryan stated she doesn’t just like the time period DEI. She stated she believes in acceptance and inclusion of all college students, hiring being advantage based mostly and instructing kids “respect, tolerance and kindness.”
A dialog round variety, fairness and inclusion led to a query by the instructor’s union moderator on an nameless flyer that was positioned this week in some Mokena mailboxes that expressed anti-Muslim sentiment after the previous Arbury Hills Elementary College was offered to an Islamic prayer group.
All 10 candidates denounced the rhetoric, with some saying extra must be accomplished to name out hurtful conduct, particularly in social media.
Michelle Mullins is a contract reporter for the Every day Southtown.
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