Questions for Dist 65 Candidates Emailed to CSNA

Submitted by CSNA on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 00:40
  1. Consolidate D65 and D202?

 

-- Bill

 

Bill Smith

Publisher

Evanston Now LLC

bill@evanstonnow.com

847-733-7526

 

 

  1. Hello,
    I would like to submit a question for the D65 Candidate Forum.
    My question is: The opportunity gap, particularly between Black and white students, has been identified as a major educational hurdle facing the district. If you were on the school board, how would you tackle (or how are you tackling) this challenge?

Thank you!

Nora Kahn

Nora Kahn <noraskahn@gmail.com>
 

  1. Hello,

I have a question for the District 65 Candidate forum on 3/17.  My question is:

  • The matter of the district's financial position has come up a lot lately. How would you explain what is at the root of this issue and how are you working to address this?

 

Thank you.

 

Jill Kidd

Jill Kidd jillkidd@me.com

 

  1. Hello,

 

I would like to submit the following questions. Thank you!

 

1-Please share what you think needs to happen to close the opportunity gap between Black and white students in particular in D65.

 

2-It's a pretty divisive time in our community, if elected to the school board, what actions would you take to bring the community back together? 

 

3-Aside from advocating for returning to in person learning full-time and getting the financials figured out, what do you plan to do with your time on the board?

 

Best,

Michelle Dahl

Michelle Dahl michelle.dahl21@gmail.com

 

  1. Hi! I’d like to submit this question for all candidates. 

 

Thanks, 

Vanessa Dillingham 

2700 Thayer St. 

Vanessa Irving Dillingham <vanessa.dillingham@gmail.com>

Question: Please tell us what one attribute you bring to the school board that you feel is most important in the role?

 

  1. Dear CSNA:

 

Thank you VERY MUCH for hosting this important forum.  Nearly all I have contacted about it say the same thing:  “I really haven’t followed the issues or the candidates.”  For many, it’s the complacency that follows when your kids graduate from D65 to D202 or leave home altogether, or maybe you live here, but don’t use D65 schools.  But as we well know, the vitality of Evanston is a reflection of its public schooling, and that includes the city’s economic status and real-estate values.  Ironically both are impacted by Evanston’s high property taxes, much of which fund public education, and which in turn jeopardize property affordability.  So, if only as taxpayers, all Evanston residents should be concerned.  Arranging and sponsoring this forum will help us vote responsibly.

 

My Q for the candidates is:

 

"Given the long history of District 65’s racial achievement gaps, which predate D65’s 2015 report* by many years** and persist, little progress has been made, despite hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money spent to identify and address the root causes of this disparity*** – including the firing and hiring of D65 superintendents.  How will you be more effective at changing this than your predecessors?

 

Sincerely,

 

Anita Gewurz

713 Ingleside Place
Evanston IL 60201-1709
T: (847) 328-9309
C: (847) 224-8550
E: agewurz@rush.edu

 

 

 

 

  1. Dear Central Street Neighbors Association,


Thank you for hosting the District 65 School Board Candidates Forum.

 

My questions to candidates for the District 65 school board follow in order of importance to me:

 

  • What is your position on reopening District 65 schools to in-person instruction? How would you respond to those who think that District 65 schools reopened too slowly and to too few students, and that District leaders have not communicated openly or honestly to parents and the community about its reopening plans and implementation?

 

  • Do you support or oppose the closure of an existing District 65 elementary school, and why? If so, how would you decide which school to close? If not, what alternative means would you pursue to balance the financial and equity goals that have often justified such a proposal?

 

  • What do you see as District 65’s most pressing challenge moving forward and how do you propose to address it?

 

Thank you,

Michael Allen

2150 McDaniel Ave

Evanston, IL

M Allen adastraallen@gmail.com

 


  1. Q1 - Would you commit to your children (if applicable) partaking in all District 65 curriculum optional or not (eg LGBTQ-related curriculum and anti-racism curriculum)?

 

Q2 - What is your plan for resolving current budget issues in D65 without sacrificing any of the current quality of education for our children? 

 

Colleen Egan wadecoll@gmail.com

 

  1. 2 part question- What is your stance on what is proposed to be cut to help alleviate the financial crisis- what do you feel like are appropriate positions or programs that should be cut? What are your feelings about switching to an interventionist position versus having reading specialists following a pandemic School year. 


 

Thank you for hosting this!! 

Mary Kate Young <marykateyoung1@gmail.com>

 

  1. Question to board incumbents:

 

State law requires that school districts accommodate academically gifted students. All neighboring districts allow math acceleration. How is discontinuing this option in D65 helping any other group of student? Is academic success a zero sum proposition?

 

Gerry

Yahoo mp4110@yahoo.com

 

  1. For the people who have been serving on the Board (incumbents plus several others that were appointed):

 

Why was a structural deficit of the budget allowed to persist pre-covid?

 

Thank you,

Sue Callison

Sue Callison qcallisonip2@gmail.com

 

  1. With the district administration’s push to completely eliminate math acceleration, how do you plan to ensure that D65 is not in violation of the Accelerated Placement Act and how do you plan to address the learning needs of high-performing students in order to ensure opportunities in D65 are on par with neighboring public school districts?

 

Natasha Katz natashakatz@hotmail.com

 

  1. Hello,

 

I have three children attending district 65 (3rd, 5th and 8th grade). I would like to submit a question for the candidates forum this week:

 

What is your view on investing in academic excellence also above grade level by providing students opportunities to excel and perform above grade level? As an example, the district is discontinuing the middle school math acceleration program, where a qualified group of students (based on their test scores) could excel and take advanced math courses while at middle school and then at ETHS. Instead, the district is now offering the same math curriculum to all middle school students.

 

Thank you,

Michal

Michal Maimaran m-maimaran@kellogg.northwestern.edu

 

  1. Hello,

 

Here are some questions for the CSNA forum.

 

Reopening plans: The current board has been conservative to reopen in person. How would you get the community on board and facilitate a safe, full-time, in-person reopening in the fall? How would you incorporate voices from the medical community and reach out to those who are reluctant?

Transparency and Accountability: Why is it important to acknowledge parents and community members as stakeholders in their children's education? How can the BOE do better in providing transparent reopening plans, budget documents, and open meetings where community input is valued?

Recovering from COVID: How will you be able to contribute to the recovery and return to normalcy, post-COVID? Students and teachers have been through a long period of remote learning and community trauma. How can kids recover learning losses, heal from trauma, and find a new normal so they are ready to learn and grow?

Financial Questions: The district is struggling with a formidable deficit and lack of funds in many areas. Many new administrative positions were recently created and spending on consultants has skyrocketed. In particular, there was a news article recently about Sagebird consulting and a $112,000 contract that may not have had competing bids. How will the board fix this financial situation and get the district on the right path so that tax dollars go to classrooms where they are most needed?

 

Thank you!

Diana Tang diana.o.tang@gmail.com

 

 

  1. Who, from your perspective, is the D65 Board of Education accountable to? Do you think it's important to engage with the D65 community and if yes, what have you done during your tenure (and if you are not an incumbent, what would you do moving forward) to ensure that the community feels valued and heard? Do you think speed reading parent comments and questions into the record during Board meetings and never answering the posed questions -- during or afterwards -- sends the message that the parent community is valued, seen as a partner, and/or is held in any regard?

Kai Sternstein kaisternstein1970@gmail.com

  1. My question is:

 

‘What would the candidates plan to do to reverse the declining test results being see across all age groups, races and ethnicities?’

 

Secondly,

 

‘Would candidates care to comment on whether it is appropriate for the SuperIntendent of D65 to call parents ‘White Supremacists’ when they write to request a return to in person teaching?

 

Thanks

S J <sijacko@hotmail.com>

 

  1. 1. You are asking to serve on a board that makes decisions for preK-8th grade.  Why should parents trust you with decisions that impact their children?

 

2.  What are your strengths and honestly what are your weaknesses relative to this job?  How will you leverage your strengths and how will you work to improve and overcome your weaknesses (what work are you going to put in)?

 

3. Angela:  in response to an inability to campaign post, you mentioned that you work over 60 hours per week. Please state how you believe you can effectively prepare and work in a board capacity given these limitations.

 

4. What do you view as the key metrics (most important 3-5) for the district.  (Ie close the achievement gap by 5% per year over the next 8 years, ensure all students have opportunity to live within 1.5 miles of their home). 

 

5.  Along the same lines, how should community members judge if you have been effective in your role after 6 months, one year, 18 months, and 2 years?

 

6.  Specifically, ANGELA: you are running on fiscal responsibility and budgeting.  What is your concrete goal for the budget and what timeframe do you place on that?  What metrics should the community use to hold you accountable.

 

7.  Recently, there was an article co-signed by a number of doctors brought forward by the Reopen Evanston Group.  Perhaps the group was unaware at the impact of portions of that document, but the language was highly disparaging to key demographics, namely those with lower access to health care and Black and brown families.  Specifically to the two candidates who are aligned with the reopen group but to all candidates, what evidence do you have from your community/volunteer work or job that you are a champion of the voices of all members in the community, including those who may be marginalized by class, race, ability, geographic location in Evanston, etc.

 

8.  With reopening schools being a moot point, how do those who have this as a key part of their platform justify their continued candidacy/reason to be considered?

 

9.  Language for the reopen schools candidates has shifted from basic reopening to now including words like safety and equity after schools were already opened.  Why was equity and safety  later add to the goal?

 

 

10. If anyone has a child enrolled in a school other than one in D65, please disclose

 

11. For incumbent board members- there has been a lot of talk lately about fiscal responsibility and is, in fact, the stated reason that at least two new  candidates would like to be considered...please state (1) how the district approaches the budget (2) what is already in place to make necessary budget actions (3) do you think someone with financial/fiscal knowledge is necessary to meet the upcoming financial challenges

 

12. What made you initially run for the board?

 

Wilks Holiday wilksholiday@gmail.com

 

  1. Good morning,

 

I am interested in School Board candidates to answer the following question:

 

There was a recent survey about next year's calendar put out by Dr. Horton. Are you in favor of making any of the following holidays attendance days: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Veterans Day, Presidents Day, and Good Friday? If yes, which one(s)? And why?

 

Thank you.

-Amy Wolok

District 65 Parent 

Amy Wolok amy.wolok@gmail.com

 

 

  1. “How do you interpret the D65 5Essential ratings? What strategies are you urging Dr.Horton to pursue to improve these leading indicators of school success?”

 

Carolyn Laughlin

847.902.7737

Carolyn Laughlin carolynlaughlin@comcast.net

 

 

  1. 1. Evanston feels like a war zone and it feels we will be dealing with the wreckage of Covid for a long time.  How specifically will you help heal this community?

 

2. Marquise, will you support the LGBTQ curriculum in future years or will you try to change or get rid of it?

Kate Brown kberrybrown@gmail.com

 

  1. My own question is as follows:

 

It is fact that the achievement gap has not narrowed, despite the implementation of numerous programs and significant expenditures of tax revenue.  Which programs would you change or eliminate, and how would you re-allocate program funds?  What new/replacement program ideas do you have?  And what are the root problems that fuel the gap which are not being addressed by present programming?

 

Carl

Carl Bova LAST_NAME carlbova@comcast.net

 

  1. Hi there, 


Thank you for hosting a forum for the D65 board candidates!  I am looking forward to it.  Here is a proposed question: 

 

What is your vision for 8th graders leaving District 65?  What measures will you look at (and should the public look at) to assess how we are doing toward achieving those aims for students across the district?

 

Stacy (mom of 3rd graders in D65)


--

Stacy McAuliffe

sbmcauliffe@gmail.com
773.304.8873

 

  1. I like “Biz” but have to wonder how her work as an equity consultant impacts her school board work.

 

Maybe the question to all board candidates is: How might your professional or personal life impact your ability to make decisions for the good of all Evanston residents. How do you manage this as well as finding time and the means to engage with parts of the community with whom you are not currently affiliated? 

Connie Heneghan
Connie Heneghan crheneghan@comcast.net
  1. Question

What is your position towards consolidating districts 202 and 65?

 

Chava Wu chavawu@icloud.com

 

 

  1. 1. What types of Grants are being looked at to assist with the budget deficit? Who is our Grant Writer and how is all prioritized?

 

2.  How comfortable are you with giving support to parents of LGBTQ+ parents on a regular basis if they needed additional resources? How comfortable are you with supporting parents who are wanting more input as to how to support their child and their friends, if the parent is not themselves comfortable due to cultural backgrounds, religion or upbringing.  Evanston has many different nationalities in its school, mostly thanks to NU. But many parents have strong beliefs. How do you envision making sure the district follows the state mandate to provide education for LGBTQ+, has an available person a student or students can feel comfortable speaking with, recognizes that developmentally, especially towards middle school some students will question, but that does not mean they want to label themselves (hence not pushing to identify), make sure teachers are supported and parents can have some input into the curriculum or at minimum, preview so they know what to expect and can discuss with their child. Who do you envision conducting these lessons moving forward?

 

3.  What are your thoughts on hiring a consulting firm to redistrict versus opening up a prek-8 building in the 5th ward? With redistricting, will the 5th Ward again be only an idea?

 

4.  Evanston has numerous preschools, which are extremely expensive. Preschool or some sort of nursery school, early childhood center which if affordable seems to be lacking in this district. We know through research, the early years are critical.  How will you make changes to the current system? How will you make the entrance into kindergarten more equitable from a readiness standpoint?

 

5.  Special Education continues to be a concern in our district. For some, it is fighting to get services and for others, students seem to be placed at certain schools, rather than their home school and being provided the least restrictive environment. Parents have left the district because of the special education situation. What are your thoughts on the current program and how do you envision change can occur?

 

6.  Covid has forever changed us in numerous ways.  This generation of students has truly had loss, some watching loved ones get ill, some losing loved ones and other always worried someone will get sick.  They have lost birthdays, holidays, sports, dance, etc.  Many students have gained weight, becomes more anxious, their family has had job loss an lost places to live.  They struggle and see their parents struggle.  As we know, feeling safe and secure, having nutritious food to eat and a place to call home are basic needs. What structure do you envision instituting for the summer and next school year to assist with social and emotional growth? 

Noelle Hilgart ellie_hilgart@yahoo.com

  1. Hi. I just saw the info about the candidate forum in the Haven E-news. Thanks for hosting this. I’ll be there. Here is my question:

 

We recently learned that D65 is going to replace 22 reading specialists with 18 reading interventionists. Especially in light of the learning losses anticipated as a result of the pandemic, how will you support struggling readers now that there are fewer teachers/specialists in these positions of support?

 

Laura Wright

Laura Wright wright.laura@gmail.com

 

  1. Schools were pushed to be opened. While it is important for students to return, many teachers had to make the return decision back in the fall.  Some teachers were denied their request. Information in regards to Covid, circumstances and feelings change over time. Without teachers, our students cannot learn. While I understand the medical advisory was informative, I am concerned about the lack of respect to make sure all teachers received a vaccine (if they so chose), before returning.  We had the research for the medical portion, but what about respect and some compassion for the teachers? They are just now receiving a vaccine, which other schools seemed to accomplish over a month ago. Moving forward, I am concerned about the parent push for things to happen, versus the knowledge of an educator and respect for their profession.  How will you back up our teachers? How much input will you give them on curriculum, scheduling, redistricting, opening up a 5th Ward school, school calendar, etc.  

Noelle Hilgart <ellie_hilgart@yahoo.com>

 

  1. How do you each address the district changes that the curricular admin team is pushing this year and next, specifically:

1) completely revamping the social studies narratives from years past, now focusing primarily on racial issues and injustices in all lessons,

2) revamping sexual education curriculum materials, while simultaneously assuring parents that the teachers are adequately trained in bringing up some personal and emotional topics at the right developmental ages for our youth, while also balancing and respecting all religious family beliefs in the district and all comfort levels instead of what the admin team deems is developmentally appropriate

3) Getting rid of the long standing math acceleration program throughout the district which negatively affects the mathematically gifted demographic

4) limiting/cutting reading specialists for those kiddos struggling the most with phonemic awareness and fluency?

How can those changes benefit or hurt our children further? Where do you stand on thirst issues and how in depth will you be looking at curricular materials for said topics do that we feel that our kids are learning is best practice for PUBLIC school remains in alignment with all values and sentiments, not just those at the top. Also for those at the top, how are they held accountable for these drastic changes as we have seen from our older kids curriculum to our younger kids getting a new experience. Who makes these changes and how does new curriculum get checked and balanced?

Sarah Neikrug teamsv@geiger.com

 

  1. For the incumbents, why did you reject the idea of the medical advisory board for months, as local physicians begged for an audience with you out of a sense of duty and desire to help the district transition to hybrid, face to face learning. In fact, at least two of you (Biz & Joey) noted your opposition less that 24 hours prior to Dr. Horton announcing the formation of his medical advisory group, as noted in your Democratic Party of Evanston interviews. How do you explain your opposition?

Sarah Neikrug teamsv@geiger.com

 

  1. Thanks for hosting the forum tonight.  It is VERY much appreciated.

 

 

Below is my Question

Many of the current school board goals are associated with ambitious, longer term outcomes related to equity and achievement.  

What are some of the shorter term metrics you believe we should be tracking and sharing along the way to determine if the current initiatives are working and contributing to the longer term goals or if they need to be refined or changed?

 

--

Helene Rosenblum

312-953-0151

rosenblumhn@gmail.com

 

  1. What is your view on the district’s decision to cancel the middle school math acceleration program?

 

Many thanks!

Yuval Salant y-salant@kellogg.northwestern.edu

 

  1. Word on the street is that current D65 board members has its sights set on closing Orrington School because in order to build a new neighborhood school in the 5th Ward, one must close. AND because this is a privileged area with resources. But the nearest schools to Orrington are either 1.5 miles away (Kingsley) or 2.1 miles away (Dewey) so closing it would intentionally leave a large part of the Northeast part of Evanston, without a neighborhood school…at a time when we are advocating the opposite.

 

  1. Do the incumbents lean toward closing Orrington? Do the challengers? 

 

  1. Have they considered the two struggling magnet schools, which could be replaced by a new 5th ward STEM magnet school? 

 

Kiera Kelly kiera.kelly@k2-pr.com

 

 

  1. Why are many D65 middle schoolers still not able to return to in-person learning when all of CPS middle schoolers were invited back and all 4,000 of ETHS' students are too on a rotating basis. Why isn't there a roating model for the middle schools instead of a small number of kids allowed back full-time, while the others are stuck remote-learing watch their classmates be taught by an in-person teacher? Why were the percentages of kids restricted so much at Haven, where only 25% (or 219 kids of 900) were allowed to return, less than half the number of what the district's materials said the CDC allowed. A growing boddy of research and even President Biden says that the risks are higher for kids to continue to be out of school than back in.

 

Kiera Kelly kiera.kelly@k2-pr.com

 

  1.  To the incumbents, are you planning to eliminate accelerated middle school math?  How will you meet federal mandates requiring that all schools offer an accelerated option for students who test at an accelerated level?

 

To the challengers, do you want to eliminate advanced math? If it has been eliminated, would you advocate to restore it?

 

Kiera Kelly kiera.kelly@k2-pr.com

 

  1. Hi,

 

Sorry if I am getting these questions in a little late:

 

As a candidate will you support curriculums that teach students and their families about racism, white supremacy, white privilege and how to be anti-racist? And will you support curriculums about LGBTQ+ and other equity and justice issues?

 

And can you see these systemic issues as more than a one time curriculum or lesson but as a lens through which all decisions in the district should be made?

 

Thank you,

 

Stacy Jaffe

Stacy Jaffe stacyconnection@gmail.com

 

  1. Will you support a new school being built in the 5th ward even if that means there needs to be cuts or a closure of one of the other schools in predominantly white neighborhoods?

Stacy Jaffe <stacyconnection@gmail.com>