FOIA Gras Election Updates
And a preview of my questionnaire
Apologies for the slow updates lately, between the doom-scrolling, writers block, my day job, and a big investigative story on the City, I’ve been busy lately.
There are still twelve candidates for the District 65 Board, a couple of candidates have dropped out. We are now past the withdrawal deadline, so this is the final list that will be on the April 1 ballot.
ALL of the candidates have published websites, which are linked below:
If other candidates have websites I’ve missed, please throw in the comments and I will update.
I’ve also started keeping a database of candidate donations from the State’s website. This comes with an important caveat that not all donations will be available from the state until after the election. In typical Illinois style, the quarterly filing deadline for donations is March 30, well after early voting has begun.
The City elections are also interesting and I’m very curious to watch the Mayor’s race, where I’m coming around that Jeff Boarini might have a real shot against the incumbent, Daniel Biss. The Envision Evanston plan, now mostly delayed until after the election, was an interesting choice in an election year. As they used to say in Chicago, “Don't Make No Waves...Don't Back No Losers” (a favorite book of mine).
My Election Plans & Questionnaire
I wanted to do a podcast and have conversations with the candidates but I just don’t have the time with so many candidates. But I have written (with some help - thank you!) a short questionnaire for candidates.
I was looking at some of the other questionnaires and found that all 12 candidates will probably give something like the same answer for every question which is some version of “yes, we believe in both financial sustainability and equity.”
My intent was to write questions that are interesting for the reader, will yield answers that are not carbon copies, and stick to a board member’s actual statutory authority. Here’s the questions, feel free to dunk on them in the comments!
(1) Superintendent Accountability: Prior Board members will attest that the District 65 Administration is not always honest with the School Board. The Foster School debacle is a great example, but there are other examples of the Administration either misleading or lying-by-omission to the Board (another example - last two years of budget). A Board member has limited statutory authority outside of holding the Superintendent accountable. How do you intend to modify the Superintendent’s contract, such that you can hold them accountable?
(2) Superintendent Residency: The current Board suspended the requirement that the Superintendent reside in Evanston. Do you support reinstating this requirement?
(3) Superintendent Role: Do you believe the District 65 Superintendent’s role is educational or political or both? 100/0? 50/50? 75/25? Should the Superintendent, for instance, have a bigger role in City of Evanston or Northwestern politics?
(4) Criminal Complaint: Dr. Horton participated in acts that appear criminal, including awarding no-bid contracts to business partners, receiving kickbacks for those contracts, using the purchasing card for personal expenses, and intentionally misleading statements on the lease certificate. Do you support the Board filing a formal criminal complaint with State or Federal Law Enforcement?
(5) Equity: President Trump has indicated that local governments which prioritize DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) subjects or LGBT students will lose federal funding. These topics are a part of District 65’s mission, however federal money amounts to about $9-10 million/year in revenue (6% of the budget). You may likely be in the position of having to pick between continuing these programs (example) or sacrificing federal revenue, most of which goes towards low-income and special education students. Are you willing to cut ties with the Federal Government in order to save programs such as the BLM curriculum, support for trans youth, or diversity training? If so, how do you mitigate the impact on low-income or special education students?
(6) Technology: Technology is playing an increasingly prominent role in students’ school experience and some parents are organizing around this. What is your position on technology used for curricular-based activities in the classroom (i.e. educational applications such as iReady) and; technology use unrelated to curricular-based activities in schools (i.e. “brain breaks,” Friday Free Time, Indoor Recess, and general iPad use outside of educational purposes)? Outside of pulling funding for technology, how can a Board member influence these decisions?
(7) Advanced Math & Gifted Students: District 65 no longer teaches geometry in-person. This places some students at a disadvantage when they start at ETHS, potentially precluding more advanced math, and means these students may not receive an ambitious education. Will you commit to instructing the Superintendent to bring geometry back in all middle schools?
(8) Facilities: The District has a deep problem with facilities, almost $200 million of work is needed in a District that only brings in ~$150 million of revenue a year. Capital costs are exorbitant, as evidenced by the Foster School, a small K-5 school costing $48 million and required no land purchase. The District has no way to fund these repairs: there is no further room for municipal debt (because of the debt limit maximums) and even with the SDRP cuts, D65’s annual budget will barely break even. How do you intend to fund facility renovations?
Once I have the questionnaires back, I will publish them.
I’m trying to figure out a way to give the candidates space to publish on this blog too, but 12 posts between now and April 1 is a lot of posts. Once I figure out a strategy here, I’ll let you know.
Also, I will not be doing any endorsements this cycle. I originally wanted to, but after a lot of thought - it puts me in a difficult position as an investigative journalist. If I endorse someone and they end up not working out, I’m concerned I’ll be hesitant to criticize them. This is why big newspapers traditionally had the editorial department issue the endorsements, separate from the journalism work.
I would be curious about which candidates support differentiated instruction. https://wilmette39.ss9.sharpschool.com/for_students/differentiated_instruction This teaching strategy acknowledges that students have different learning speeds and learning styles, and strives to meet each child where they are, so students can keep moving forward with a thorough focus on comprehension at each step. It’s a big strength of Wilmette’s approach, and used to also be a strength of D65.
These are good questions--although I would like to know the candidates' position on having a public superintendent search where finalists are brought in for public events prior to an offer being made.
The last two superintendents were hired in secret and a lot of the mistrust people have with the board is wondering why they are hiring people with such limited experience, dodgy financial backgrounds, and ineligible to work for other districts.
The board needs to go back to a public process for superintendent searches. This is key for transparency.
Multiple candidates are talking about "restoring trust" or running on "transparency." If they can't make a simple pledge to have public superintendent searches, then those are just platitudes.
I am assuming Tom already sent the questions out, but if you are a candidate reading this there is no reason you can't weave a pledge for open superintendent searches into the first question.
Also, for Tom--I am struck by the lack of a question regarding transparency! Isn't that, like, the whole purpose of "FOIA"gras?!?!?!?!