Several candidates seeking election to the Oak Park School District 97 Board were on hand during a recent candidate forum to take questions from voters.
The forum was held at the Oak Park Public Library on Jan. 11. Candidates spoke primarily about racial issues, including the so-called “achievement gap” that exists between groups of Oak Park students.
Candidate Katherine Murray-Liebl said her fifth-grade son had his first male teacher this year, who was also African-American. Murray-Liebl said a more diverse staff could be a positive for the students.
“This is not a District 200 problem. It’s happening in the very early grades,” Murray-Liebl said. “I would like to see our hiring practices changed dramatically. [My son’s] entire year was amazing. He saw himself in this teacher. The kids should be seeing themselves in their role models.”
Charity Caldwell, a former Oak Park student now with a daughter in the district, said the achievement gap is a real problem that must be addressed.
“I am noticing with her experience in the classroom that not all students in District 97 are having the same experience,” Caldwell said. “That is something that has been a problem for a generation, even two generations perhaps. We have to make a difference in changing that.”
Keecia Broy said the key to narrowing such a gap is to first understand what is creating it.
“Oak Park is not unique in having an achievement gap,” Broy said. “In order to understand what to address, you have to understand what the problems are. We need to focus on data and if teachers feel they are getting the support they need.”
Heather Claxton-Douglas offered a different idea on what may be the cause of the issue, but also pledged to seek the source of the problem.
“Six months ago, I would have said the cause of the achievement gap is a lack of resources,” Claxton-Douglas said. “After collecting petitions and talking to people, I started realizing one of the facets not often considered is there’s a confidence gap.”
Cynthia Ashford Hollis said a partnership between teachers and parents would help the next school board understand the issue.
“I think it’s very evident there’s a problem,” Hollis said. “I applaud the fact it’s being talked about and everyone is not afraid to speak about it. The board needs to make sure parents are involved in the discussion. Teachers only see children in the daytime. We need a direct dialogue with parents and teachers.”
Robert Walicki pledged to work with Superintendent Carol Kelley and fellow parents in understanding and addressing the issue.
“I’m proud to participate in Dr. Kelley’s advisory panel,” Walicki said. “We need to continue to support that effort and all the hard work that goes into installing structures at the classroom level [to address it].”
Rob Breymaier said his work with the Oak Park Regional Housing Center would assist him and the school board in seeking to narrow equity issues.
“I’ve had a lot of experience working on racial equity and community [issues],” Breymaier said. “I’m really focused on trying to figure out how we can improve racial equity in the school district and find a way that can be institutionalized and stay structural.”
In addition to addressing achievement issues, Maya Ganguly spoke of a new collective bargaining agreement with District 97’s teachers.
“Because of my background with working with unions and contracts, I think I can bring a lot to the table with the new contract for teachers that’s coming up,” Ganguly said. “I want my kids to benefit from the positive change we can bring to the district.”
Board members also tackled other questions regarding racial equity, the upcoming operating fund and facilities referendums and expiring tax increment financing districts.
“By policy, we have a cap on our operating surplus,” candidate David Yamashita said. “I think that’s extremely important. District 200 is sitting on an awful lot of cash. This district really needs the money just to operate. If in fact there was a windfall of resources, I would be adamant as a board member to [give the residents] a rebate to the tax levy.”
Candidate Deena Bernett was not present at the forum.
Note: An earlier version of this story failed to mention the presence of candidate Katherine Murray-Liebl at the forum.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering
