Lionel, thanks for your post. I’ve been asking this of each of the candidates, One of the key jobs of the board is to hire a superintendent. After decades of conducting open searches where finalists were announced to the public and the district held open meetings with finalists, the current board conducted searches entirely in the dark, without public input.
Would you vote to continue this practice? Or go back to a public-facing superintendent search for the next vacancy?
I believe the ONLY way to redirect this district is to have FULL transparency! I have been to district meetings imploring the board to be more transparent with the community and their decision making, however it fell on deaf ears.
The candidates had a meet & greet with the superintendent a couple of weeks ago, we were being brought up to speed on what the superintendent needed from the new board members to be successful. She said she needed the board to TRUST her and not be swayed by the community. If you’re being transparent, the communities thoughts and opinions wouldn’t sway the board. If you’re being transparent you go to the board and say “my sister is up for a raise, our last names are different, here’s how I believe she earned her raise.”
I could go on, however the answer to the question is I would vote to have the process go back to a public-facing superintendent search. I want the public to ask questions, get to know the superintendent and be approachable. After all, the superintendent should live in the community and be accessible to the community.
Hi Lionel, I’m wondering if you think it’s a conflict of interest that your spouse is the admin for the “D65 parents” group on Facebook, where the group has been discussing the school board elections, including a post yesterday accusing one of your opponents of having ties to Homeland Security because her husband works there.
Hello Disgruntled Taxpayer, I appreciate the question and I'm going to be very honest and transparent with you because I expect the same from you. I don't believe it's a conflict of interest for my spouse to be an admin of a private group. I believe there are three admins, so my spouse doesn't have the autonomy to make a decision for that group.
Disgruntled Taxpayer, I'M running for District 65 School Board, which isn't an easy thing AT ALL, along with 11 other courageous people. WE have decided to be vulnerable, WE have decided to put OURselves out front because of OUR(the community of Evanston) children. All comments, complaints and questions, should be addressed to candidate about their opinion. I haven't spoken to any other candidate about this, but I'm tired of it! It's draining! It's negative! and more importantly...it's unproductive!
I can only speak for myself...I want to be very clear. When the conversation stops being about "the future, protection and eduction of our children in D65" and starts to become about my spouse, I get nervous and then I get protective.
Disgruntled Taxpayer, I believe we have more pressing issues and questions at hand...who's going to ask the difficult questions? Who is going to hold the superintendent accountable? Who is going to be the voice for your child, in a room they are not allowed to access? Where is the almost $14 million going to come from?
I hope I answered your question. If you have more, please don't hesitate.
I wish people would stop bringing in spouses into this race. Whether, it's Maria's husband or Lionel's wife or whomever, the spouse is not the one running for office. We are all differentiable from our significant others...
Maria is an excellent candidate. We should really celebrate the fact that someone with an MBA from Chicago and years of corporate experience wants to contribute her skills to making D65 better.
I don't know if you've seen the post on the Facebook group about Maria, but it basically amounts to "Maria is part of a Trump plot to infiltrate the schools with ICE agents."
Seems like more mud slinging to me. I’m not sure why a post like this was allowed. Lionel’s wife has been quoted in the media as an admin for that group so it’s not exactly a secret.
I don't know who Lionel's spouse is, but I chalked the recent post up to the resurrection of the same playbook that was used in 2021 and 2023 by the same people to impugn candidates. Remember when John Martin's character was assaulted because the AYSO didn't use affinity circles or intersectionality to teach kids soccer?
I am Tracy Fulce-Gentle and I am Lionel's wife and one of the 4 admin/moderators of the Facebook group I believe you were referring to. The post was allowed because it is in alignment with our community guidelines.
While I have volunteered to admin the group since 2021, it's not my JOB, but a way that I volunteer to support a subset of my community. A subset of my community with clear guidelines that all members must agree to in order to participate. Guidelines that were created by the members and are regularly revisited to ensure they continue to align with our collective values and priorities. We do NOT police our members and we maintain a vibrant group chat where we discuss issues around posts and ensure that any posts are aligned with the guidelines. Given that I also hold other positions in our community that come with actual/perceived power and authority, I don't often post to the group so as to ensure free communication. That was my choice BEFORE my husband decided to run and remains my choice since he entered the race. If he has not asked me to compromise my principle based approach to administering the group, I certainly won't do it for an anonymous poster on the internet.
I could be wrong, but the place to address and respond to that ‘post’ is the place that post originated from. It is a private FB group, some people have no idea what you’re talking about.
Are you in said group? What’s your name in the group? I’m a member of the group, will you please create a post to address this?
Yeah I don't understand why we need to litigate that group's rules in this comment section. I really don't understand why people can't just leave that group?
I disagree that I called out anyone, but what I DID do is reiterate the group rules and my approach to leadership.
Some folks in our community don't understand community and connection, and approach their decisions from a very transactional place. Evanston is not only my hometown but also that of my parents and grandparents, that continuity requires that I consider the short and long term ramifications of my decisions. So I am not one for throwing rocks and hiding my hand. Showing up with integrity is, was, and will always be one of my core values.
Hello Mark, you're welcome. Thank you for this question.
In my opinion, the purpose of a school is to educate. I can have school anywhere; a parking lot, on the beach, in a basketball gym, etc., but if I don't have the educators, the key masters, it's all for not. Fortunately we aren't there yet, however we need a plan. We have to be proactive and not reactive. I'm a Bessie Rhodes parent, I've watched some members of this board dismantle the school while class was in session. I'm not going to go into it, it's been well documented on the YouTube channel and by Tom Hayden.
We as a community have to come together to decide, based on the criteria, which other school will be closed? It has to happen, it's important the community is heard and their ideas are taken into account. I've met with one current board member and I'm exciting about where this district is headed and the possibilities. I see a three, maybe four year turnaround for our district. It will take everyone.
Mark, I believe the purpose of school is to plant a seed of curiosity and confidence in children starting in pre-k, it's every teachers(K, 1st, 2nd, etc.) responsibility to water and nourish those seeds along the way, so they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
I hope I answered your question, please let me know if you have any others. You can drop it here or email me at lionelgentlefor65@gmail.com
Thank you Lionel for your quick and thoughtful reply.
To me this is the essence of the whole process that we as community members, and parents and school employees - and you as an interested and potential board member - is going through. What ultimately is it that the schools should be laser focused on; what is their top priority day in and day out? Until that's clearly defined AND expressed by the community all of these other issues will be very hard to address and resolve. I write as a recently retired classroom teacher of 30 years.
Three part question here: Do you support a full and complete & independent financial “forensic” audit of D65, going back to when the last referendum was passed—in order to get a handle on what has happened in D65 financially? And then, importantly share the findings with the community via open house two way Q&A forums? If you support, can we get your commitment to call for this at the first BOE meeting you attend as a new BOE member?
Lionel, thanks for your post. I’ve been asking this of each of the candidates, One of the key jobs of the board is to hire a superintendent. After decades of conducting open searches where finalists were announced to the public and the district held open meetings with finalists, the current board conducted searches entirely in the dark, without public input.
Would you vote to continue this practice? Or go back to a public-facing superintendent search for the next vacancy?
Hello Penny, you’re welcome.
I believe the ONLY way to redirect this district is to have FULL transparency! I have been to district meetings imploring the board to be more transparent with the community and their decision making, however it fell on deaf ears.
The candidates had a meet & greet with the superintendent a couple of weeks ago, we were being brought up to speed on what the superintendent needed from the new board members to be successful. She said she needed the board to TRUST her and not be swayed by the community. If you’re being transparent, the communities thoughts and opinions wouldn’t sway the board. If you’re being transparent you go to the board and say “my sister is up for a raise, our last names are different, here’s how I believe she earned her raise.”
I could go on, however the answer to the question is I would vote to have the process go back to a public-facing superintendent search. I want the public to ask questions, get to know the superintendent and be approachable. After all, the superintendent should live in the community and be accessible to the community.
If you have anymore questions, you can post them here or please email me, lionelgentlefor65@gmail.com
Thank you Penny.
Hi Lionel, I’m wondering if you think it’s a conflict of interest that your spouse is the admin for the “D65 parents” group on Facebook, where the group has been discussing the school board elections, including a post yesterday accusing one of your opponents of having ties to Homeland Security because her husband works there.
Hello Disgruntled Taxpayer, I appreciate the question and I'm going to be very honest and transparent with you because I expect the same from you. I don't believe it's a conflict of interest for my spouse to be an admin of a private group. I believe there are three admins, so my spouse doesn't have the autonomy to make a decision for that group.
Disgruntled Taxpayer, I'M running for District 65 School Board, which isn't an easy thing AT ALL, along with 11 other courageous people. WE have decided to be vulnerable, WE have decided to put OURselves out front because of OUR(the community of Evanston) children. All comments, complaints and questions, should be addressed to candidate about their opinion. I haven't spoken to any other candidate about this, but I'm tired of it! It's draining! It's negative! and more importantly...it's unproductive!
I can only speak for myself...I want to be very clear. When the conversation stops being about "the future, protection and eduction of our children in D65" and starts to become about my spouse, I get nervous and then I get protective.
Disgruntled Taxpayer, I believe we have more pressing issues and questions at hand...who's going to ask the difficult questions? Who is going to hold the superintendent accountable? Who is going to be the voice for your child, in a room they are not allowed to access? Where is the almost $14 million going to come from?
I hope I answered your question. If you have more, please don't hesitate.
Good grief, its a private Facebook group. How could that be a "Conflict of Interest"?
I have been on that group for years and don't even know who the moderators are.
And I saw that post--which is a ridiculous critique of Opdyke, by the way--but I am not sure how that helps Lionel.
I wish people would stop bringing in spouses into this race. Whether, it's Maria's husband or Lionel's wife or whomever, the spouse is not the one running for office. We are all differentiable from our significant others...
Maria is an excellent candidate. We should really celebrate the fact that someone with an MBA from Chicago and years of corporate experience wants to contribute her skills to making D65 better.
I don't know if you've seen the post on the Facebook group about Maria, but it basically amounts to "Maria is part of a Trump plot to infiltrate the schools with ICE agents."
It's the Evanston version of Q-Anon.
🤦 That is truly bonkers
Seems like more mud slinging to me. I’m not sure why a post like this was allowed. Lionel’s wife has been quoted in the media as an admin for that group so it’s not exactly a secret.
Lionel or Maria’s spouse are not running for office
I don't know who Lionel's spouse is, but I chalked the recent post up to the resurrection of the same playbook that was used in 2021 and 2023 by the same people to impugn candidates. Remember when John Martin's character was assaulted because the AYSO didn't use affinity circles or intersectionality to teach kids soccer?
Same nonsense this time.
Hi! It sounds like you were looking for me?
I am Tracy Fulce-Gentle and I am Lionel's wife and one of the 4 admin/moderators of the Facebook group I believe you were referring to. The post was allowed because it is in alignment with our community guidelines.
While I have volunteered to admin the group since 2021, it's not my JOB, but a way that I volunteer to support a subset of my community. A subset of my community with clear guidelines that all members must agree to in order to participate. Guidelines that were created by the members and are regularly revisited to ensure they continue to align with our collective values and priorities. We do NOT police our members and we maintain a vibrant group chat where we discuss issues around posts and ensure that any posts are aligned with the guidelines. Given that I also hold other positions in our community that come with actual/perceived power and authority, I don't often post to the group so as to ensure free communication. That was my choice BEFORE my husband decided to run and remains my choice since he entered the race. If he has not asked me to compromise my principle based approach to administering the group, I certainly won't do it for an anonymous poster on the internet.
That post was nothing but inflammatory mud slinging. How unfortunate that that kind of post is ok with anyone’s “community guidelines.”
I could be wrong, but the place to address and respond to that ‘post’ is the place that post originated from. It is a private FB group, some people have no idea what you’re talking about.
Are you in said group? What’s your name in the group? I’m a member of the group, will you please create a post to address this?
I’m asking you to show some leadership.
Yeah I don't understand why we need to litigate that group's rules in this comment section. I really don't understand why people can't just leave that group?
She’s also now posted something calling out Maria for not using their group in all but name. This is so weird.
I disagree that I called out anyone, but what I DID do is reiterate the group rules and my approach to leadership.
Some folks in our community don't understand community and connection, and approach their decisions from a very transactional place. Evanston is not only my hometown but also that of my parents and grandparents, that continuity requires that I consider the short and long term ramifications of my decisions. So I am not one for throwing rocks and hiding my hand. Showing up with integrity is, was, and will always be one of my core values.
(edited to correct a typographical error)
Hi Lionel,
Thanks for running for school board.
A question I have for you:
What is the purpose of a school?
Hello Mark, you're welcome. Thank you for this question.
In my opinion, the purpose of a school is to educate. I can have school anywhere; a parking lot, on the beach, in a basketball gym, etc., but if I don't have the educators, the key masters, it's all for not. Fortunately we aren't there yet, however we need a plan. We have to be proactive and not reactive. I'm a Bessie Rhodes parent, I've watched some members of this board dismantle the school while class was in session. I'm not going to go into it, it's been well documented on the YouTube channel and by Tom Hayden.
We as a community have to come together to decide, based on the criteria, which other school will be closed? It has to happen, it's important the community is heard and their ideas are taken into account. I've met with one current board member and I'm exciting about where this district is headed and the possibilities. I see a three, maybe four year turnaround for our district. It will take everyone.
Mark, I believe the purpose of school is to plant a seed of curiosity and confidence in children starting in pre-k, it's every teachers(K, 1st, 2nd, etc.) responsibility to water and nourish those seeds along the way, so they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
I hope I answered your question, please let me know if you have any others. You can drop it here or email me at lionelgentlefor65@gmail.com
Thank you Lionel for your quick and thoughtful reply.
To me this is the essence of the whole process that we as community members, and parents and school employees - and you as an interested and potential board member - is going through. What ultimately is it that the schools should be laser focused on; what is their top priority day in and day out? Until that's clearly defined AND expressed by the community all of these other issues will be very hard to address and resolve. I write as a recently retired classroom teacher of 30 years.
Three part question here: Do you support a full and complete & independent financial “forensic” audit of D65, going back to when the last referendum was passed—in order to get a handle on what has happened in D65 financially? And then, importantly share the findings with the community via open house two way Q&A forums? If you support, can we get your commitment to call for this at the first BOE meeting you attend as a new BOE member?