So now we know: by a margin of about 2,500 votes, I did not win a spot on the District 214 school board. Before I set this aside and move on, I feel I owe supporters some closing comments. First, again, I thank everyone who donated to help fund yard signs and brochures, helped hand…
Final Election-Eve Thoughts
Here’s a recap: the election season has had a lot of ups and downs. UP: Almost immediately after I filed my paperwork, I wrote up some initial pieces with my primary concerns, and in particular listed a number of concerns around ethics/governance/transparency. Then a report in late December in the Daily Herald about Cathy Johnson’s…
Fact Check: The Truth About Test Scores
Yes, it’s high time I address the issue that keeps coming up, that of district test scores. At the March 23, 2023 school board meeting, a community member unknown to me spoke about her concerns regarding the district test scores, which reveal that 42% of district students are performing at less than grade-level norms, as…
Please join me at a meet & greet
Are you undecided about your vote? Please come and ask me questions! Are you a supporter already? Please come and celebrate being close to the finish line! Wednesday, March 29, 7:00 pm, at Sports Page Bar & Grill at 1330 E. Rand Rd in Arlington Heights (just north of the Target). Light appetizers will be…
FACT CHECK on the Pritzker/Democratic Party accusations
For the past month, there have been reports of Pritzker and the Democratic Party spending large sums of money to block local candidates they labelled “extremist,” after Pritzker first announced his intention and then donated $500,000 to the state Democratic organization for the purpose of getting involved in local races, especially for school board. Part…
Fact check: on the IASB School Board Governance Award
Recently, the chair of the Incumbent PAC posted on the neighborhood Facebook groups, the following: The Board of High School District 214 was recently recognized by the State for quality Public Education. The Illinois Association of School Boards awarded D214 “The school board governance recognition award!” This award acknowledges the School Board for engaging in…
Why Parents Are Asking, “Are District 214 Schools Safe?”
On February 26, the Daily Herald reported: An undisclosed number of Rolling Meadows High School students were arrested Friday after fights on campus, authorities said. School officials notified parents of the confrontations and the resulting police presence at the school late Friday night in a mass email. The following Monday, the school was placed on…
Updates on unions, endorsements, and conflicts of interest
On Monday, March 6, I received an e-mail from the ESPA Executive Board, that is, the heads of the District 214 Educational Support Personnel Association, inviting me (along with all other candidates) to participate in a Zoom session answering four prespecified questions in order to “seek financial support for their campaign in the District 214…
School board shenanigans or just routine business? You decide!
Here’s the background: in the summer of 2021, after the election was over, I was a part of a group of parents who pressed the district to livestream its board meetings. It was a small victory but a success nonetheless, diminished only insofar as the official written policy exempted workshop-style meetings, justified because of the…
An important update on financial transparency/oversight and new FOIA information
Disclaimer: Nothing in the following material is meant to be construed as a claim that any school board member or district employee has violated the law, as I am not a lawyer and have not used the services of a lawyer in making the statements below. Likewise, in some instances, my conclusions rely on the…