Hi Pat, Thank you for running! On your website under your vision statement you state:
" District 65 should empower teacher-led decision-making in the classroom and utilize materials that are research-based. "
I'd love if you can expand on what that means a few levels deeper, and how in practice as a member of the school board you can steer D65 more in this direction.
Thanks, Pat, for your interest in serving on the school board -no doubt a very public, demanding and complex job. All Evanstonians should be thankful that so many citizens are willing to take on this position.
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?
How comfortable are you with the rhetoric in the online parent community? It’s been concerning to see the level of bullying and attacks that play out.
For instance one of your prospective board colleagues Maria was skewered online by the sheer fact their spouse is a homeland security employee. We didn’t know the spouses actual position or views, but immediately Maria was deemed to be a terrible person and crucified in a parent group. Ironically this rhetoric is led by a District employees spouse and someone who has publicly supported you. This person’s endorsement of you makes me wonder if you subscribe to the same approach of bullying and rushed judgements.
How can we stop the extreme outbursts and attacks, and find ways to be respectful and have constructive dialogue and ask questions not just rushed judgements and outlandish attacks.
How comfortable are you with this rhetoric and how do you assure voters that you will not mirror this tyrannical behavior?
I am curious to know whether you think it is part of the job description to be a part of these online parent communities. I live in and parent in Evanston but do not spend much time on Facebook because it's bad for my mental health. I wouldn't begrudge D65 school board members the same right to be off social media but I'm not an elected official.
I don’t expect a board member to be on social media but I would like them to address the culture of bullying that is pervasive amongst some of the parents.
Hi Mom. I noticed that you've posted this to every candidate. Surely not all of them have been endorsed by whoever it is that you are talking about? Also, do you really believe that any candidate would support tyrannical, bullying behavior?
I wanted to equitable and fair and ask everyone the same question. You’ll notice I did modify the question slightly for the candidates who were endorsed
Hi, so the "spouse of a district employee" seems to be referring to one obvious person, but I looked everywhere and cannot find a single instance of this person endorsing any candidate, nor has any candidate made public mention of being connected to this person. So this accusation doesn't hold up to scrutiny. If you're upset about Maria, that's fine, but I really don't think any of the other candidates are involved in this.
Definitely not just a spouse, there is a group of tyrants whose sole purpose is to bully and fight every parent who does not submit to their views. The group has publicly endorsed four candidates and has pressured/bullied three current school board members so I feel very justified as a tax payer and D65 parent how a prospective board member is going handle this disturbing behavior of D65 parents (one of them does happen to be a spouse of an administrator) as it is negatively impacting all of the D65 children.
I'm still not seeing the candidate connection. If you have any evidence, you should post it. Only three orgs have made endorsements: D65 Unions, IVI-IPO, and CREW65 (formerly OPAL). All three are widely known and respected and endorse in every cycle. Are you implying that CREW65 is involved in bullying 3 sitting board members and some of the candidates? CREW65 is comprised of three retirees with long records of educational advocacy and two other ladies who seem to be engaged in the community. Or are you implying the unions are bullying people? You would think the public would have heard about either of these things.
Yes Crew65 has bullied at least three current school board members. I don’t need you to see the connection or agree or believe what I’m saying. This is a forum for school board candidates and I’ve been invited to ask the candidates questions, not debate you. Whether the candidates want to answer my question is entirely up to them.
Hi Pat, Thank you for running! On your website under your vision statement you state:
" District 65 should empower teacher-led decision-making in the classroom and utilize materials that are research-based. "
I'd love if you can expand on what that means a few levels deeper, and how in practice as a member of the school board you can steer D65 more in this direction.
Thanks!
Thanks, Pat, for your interest in serving on the school board -no doubt a very public, demanding and complex job. All Evanstonians should be thankful that so many citizens are willing to take on this position.
A question I have for you:
What is the purpose of a school?
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?
How comfortable are you with the rhetoric in the online parent community? It’s been concerning to see the level of bullying and attacks that play out.
For instance one of your prospective board colleagues Maria was skewered online by the sheer fact their spouse is a homeland security employee. We didn’t know the spouses actual position or views, but immediately Maria was deemed to be a terrible person and crucified in a parent group. Ironically this rhetoric is led by a District employees spouse and someone who has publicly supported you. This person’s endorsement of you makes me wonder if you subscribe to the same approach of bullying and rushed judgements.
How can we stop the extreme outbursts and attacks, and find ways to be respectful and have constructive dialogue and ask questions not just rushed judgements and outlandish attacks.
How comfortable are you with this rhetoric and how do you assure voters that you will not mirror this tyrannical behavior?
I am curious to know whether you think it is part of the job description to be a part of these online parent communities. I live in and parent in Evanston but do not spend much time on Facebook because it's bad for my mental health. I wouldn't begrudge D65 school board members the same right to be off social media but I'm not an elected official.
I don’t expect a board member to be on social media but I would like them to address the culture of bullying that is pervasive amongst some of the parents.
Hi Mom. I noticed that you've posted this to every candidate. Surely not all of them have been endorsed by whoever it is that you are talking about? Also, do you really believe that any candidate would support tyrannical, bullying behavior?
Hi Shawna,
I wanted to equitable and fair and ask everyone the same question. You’ll notice I did modify the question slightly for the candidates who were endorsed
Hi, so the "spouse of a district employee" seems to be referring to one obvious person, but I looked everywhere and cannot find a single instance of this person endorsing any candidate, nor has any candidate made public mention of being connected to this person. So this accusation doesn't hold up to scrutiny. If you're upset about Maria, that's fine, but I really don't think any of the other candidates are involved in this.
Definitely not just a spouse, there is a group of tyrants whose sole purpose is to bully and fight every parent who does not submit to their views. The group has publicly endorsed four candidates and has pressured/bullied three current school board members so I feel very justified as a tax payer and D65 parent how a prospective board member is going handle this disturbing behavior of D65 parents (one of them does happen to be a spouse of an administrator) as it is negatively impacting all of the D65 children.
I'm still not seeing the candidate connection. If you have any evidence, you should post it. Only three orgs have made endorsements: D65 Unions, IVI-IPO, and CREW65 (formerly OPAL). All three are widely known and respected and endorse in every cycle. Are you implying that CREW65 is involved in bullying 3 sitting board members and some of the candidates? CREW65 is comprised of three retirees with long records of educational advocacy and two other ladies who seem to be engaged in the community. Or are you implying the unions are bullying people? You would think the public would have heard about either of these things.
Yes Crew65 has bullied at least three current school board members. I don’t need you to see the connection or agree or believe what I’m saying. This is a forum for school board candidates and I’ve been invited to ask the candidates questions, not debate you. Whether the candidates want to answer my question is entirely up to them.