Election Section
A Guest Column By Greg Klaiber
Last month I shared some of what I experienced during my campaign as a candidate for the District 65 School Board. This month I would like to reflect on my tenure and perhaps offer some insight into what I believe are the essential qualities in an effective Board member.
I learned that to function well a School Board must work together to set policy, establish clear and objective goals for the District and Superintendent, then hold the Superintendent accountable towards reaching those goals.
I grew to understand the difference between governance and micromanagement. Through Board workshops, I learned that effective school boards concern themselves with results and should not get bogged down in the minutia of the processes. Finally, my Board experience taught me that what is right is not always what is popular.
My tenure was marked with change and controversy: I came on in the middle of protracted contract negotiations with the teacher's union. The previous Board had just appointed a new superintendent after an 18-month search. There were personnel changes in the central administration. We passed a referendum and constructed the Joseph E. Hill Education Center. We adopted a five-year strategic plan. We considered a proposal to open a school in the Fifth Ward. The Board adopted a new program called TWI (Two-Way Immersion). And, last but not least, we were forced to cut the budget in 2001. Of these issues, the budget cuts were by far the most stressful.
Based on financial projections, the administration recommended cutting $3.7 million to avoid making even deeper cuts in the future. This was not a fun time to be Board finance committee chair. It was agonizing and painful, yet necessary.
We held numerous community forums, met with local school PTA's, and sat down with the teacher's union to outline what was being considered for removal from the operating budget.
It was an emotional process, and the recommended cuts were met with universal scorn from these groups and others throughout our community. I received e-mails and anonymous letters from parents and educators calling me a "blight on the community" and worse. But after months of heart-wrenching debate, the Board cut $3.5 million from the budget.
In hindsight, I feel vindicated. District 65 is in excellent financial condition, with projections showing continued prosperity.
Despite the controversy, I found my term extremely rewarding. I
had been told that Board service is a thankless task, but I did not
find this to be true. I received many thanks from people I respect
and admire.
In retrospect, I take great pride in what we accomplished during my four-year
term. I would encourage anyone thinking about a possible run for
the School Board to go for it.
It is a wonderful way to serve your community.
CNC Seeks Volunteers
The Candidate Nominating Committee, CNC, is a City-wide, independent, volunteer group that holds public forums to evaluate candidates for the District 65 and District 202 School Boards. For CNC to be effective, 120 committed volunteers are needed to serve as delegates. Anyone interested in learning more about CNC or in becoming a delegate should contact Tressa Randolph at trandy@comcast.net or 847-864-1644.
School Board Candidate Forums
Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. - ETHS PTSA forum for District 202 School Board candidates will be held at Evanston Township High School, Room S214.
Feb. 23, 7 p.m. - PTA-sponsored for District 65 School Board candidates will be held at Chute Middle School Auditorium. The event is open and free to the public with special invitation to the families of Chute, Dawes, Oakton and Walker Schools.
Feb. 28, 7 p.m. - The first Candidate Nominating Committee (CNC)-sponsored forum will be held at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave., room A241.
March 7, 7 p.m. - Second CNC forum, ETHS, Room A241
March 10, 9 a.m. - noon. Evanston/North Shore Branch of the NAACP School
Board Candidates' forum, City Council chambers of the Civic Center, 2100
Ridge Ave.
Coffee With the Candidates
Keith Terry
Meet and Greet Keith at Pick-a-Cup, 1813 Dempster St., from 1 to 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 and 1-2 p.m. on March 3.
A "Coffee With Keith" will be held on Feb. 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. by Lisa and Michael Hershenson and Birdy and Keith Holzmueller at 2738 Lawndale Ave. R.S.V.P. to holzmuellers@comcast.net.
Bonnie Lockhart
A coffee will be held for Bonnie Lockhart from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Feb. 24 at the home of Daniel and Michelle Jordan, 2208 Lincolnwood Drive and also from 3 to 5 p.m. on March 4 at the home of Susan Knight and Larry Jones, 2745 Girard Ave
Katie Bailey
"Coffees With Katie" will be held on Feb. 27 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m, hosted
by Marcia Mahoney, 1236 Forest Ave; Mar. 3 from 10 to11:30
a.m. at the home of Tracy Quattrocki and Neal Brady, 1220 Hinman Ave.;
and Mar. 6 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the home of Eden and NealPearlman,
1323 Lake St.
.
Coffee notices may be sent to editor@evanstonroundtable.com
LETTERS
Elect Keith Terry to D65
Editor:
We are honored and excited to introduce Keith Terry as a candidate for the District 65 School Board.
Keith has exceptional professional and educational credentials along with a proven track record of building and leading businesses. Beyond his experience with three children in District 65 schools, Keith's ongoing service with local non-profit boards has developed his awareness of the issues affecting Evanston's youth.
Keith believes a School Board that works effectively to serve the interests
of all children is necessary and attainable. Keith will strive to
promote thoughtful debate and find common ground among individuals expressing
opposing views. He is committed to celebrating the successes of District
65, while maintaining focus on our challenges.
Please join us in supporting Keith Terry for District 65.
--Jan Fischer and Trish Stieglitz, Campaign Managers, Citizens for Keith
Terry
Elect Bonnie Lockhart
Editor:
Bonnie Lockhart, candidate for District 65 School Board, knows that positive expectations matter when educating children. Our community is ripe for a candidate like Bonnie, who is committed to working collaboratively towardensuring that all of our children have high-quality educational experiences.
Asa lifelong Evanston resident, successful product of District 65 schools, and parent of two children educated in District 65, Bonnie has first-hand knowledge and a long-term view of the value of academic achievement for all students.
Bonnie has demonstrated leadership skills, a vision for cooperative and inclusive decision-making, and a unique ability to bring together divergent perspectives toward a common goal.
Through both her professional roles in the fields of nursing and quality improvement, and her volunteer commitments withthe PTA, the Evanston Historical Society, and Evanston Neighbors at Work, Bonnie has naturally assumed leadership positions.
Electing Bonnie Lockhart for District 65 School Board would ensure that
all students in our community have an effective advocatethat will
makeour schools a positive, productive place to learn and grow. Please
join a growing list of supporters in voting for Bonnie Lockhart on April
17.
--Susan Knight
Elect Katie Bailey
Editor:
Katie Bailey is the right person at the right time for District
65's school board.
We've witnessed Katie's extraordinary energy and competence through
her volunteer work for the Evanston Baseball and Softball Association. Katie
makes things happen by having a vision, formulating her plan, and building
bridges. It occurs to us that it is not Katie's business expertise that
makes her successful, rather, it is Katie's common sense and her ability to
work with everyone.
Katie Bailey's passions have drawn her into many district issues, large
and small. It was inevitable that her interests and abilities would lead
her to take on the myriad issues facing Evanston's District 65 schools. We
applaud Katie's decision to run for election to the School Board and enthusiastically
endorse her.
--Jane Grover and Bill Blanchard
Andy Pigozzi for D65
Editor:
With many issues at stake, District 65 residents will no doubt look closely at the upcoming Board of Education elections. We are fortunate to have five candidates running, all of them motivated by the best of intentions. With such a group of dedicated and qualified people, many of us are going to find it hard to select who is going to get our vote. It is to their credit that the deciding factor will come down to what they see as being important issues which affect us all.
Andy Pigozzi's drive to be part of this election resonates with me on many levels, being rooted in his lifelong personal and professional connection to this community. As an expert in designing public schools environments, his experience with the workings of other districts as well as that of D65 brings a wider perspective to the table. His first- hand understanding that schools come to reflect and build communities is at the core of his concern to preserve a high-quality neighborhood school structure for District 65.
As far as the issues which are not on the table yet, Andy's talent in fostering productive and open dialogues will make him instrumental in reaching consensus-driven and success-yielding decisions.
One of his primary concerns is for the Board to strive to account for
those voices within our community who cannot always come to the discussion
table. For Andy, being a product of the Evanston community translates
into a deeper understanding of its challenges and a will to provide outstanding
educational standards for all of its children. I can't think of anything
more worthwhile to engage in, and I encourage the community at large to
support Andy in this effort.
--Béatrice McKenna
Terry for D65 Board
Editor:
For two years I have had the privilegeof serving on the board of directors of the Youth Job Center with Keith Terry. Keith is running for a seat on the District 65 School Board; I'm writing to ask voters in Evanston to support him.
I can't say enough positive things about Keith. I strongly believe Keith would be a great member of our School Board. He cares deeply about youth. He is bright, articulate and works well with others. I am quite confident that Keith will rise above the distrust and enmity that have factionlized our School Board for so long.
I'd also like to tell you a little about Keith. He was born in Gary and graduated from Chicago Public Schools, later earning a B.S. at the University of Wisconsin. He went on to earn his MBA at the University of Chicago. He has three children in Evanston public schools and is a 15-year resident of Evanston.
Besides serving on the Youth Job Center board of directors, he is a member of the Foundation 65 board of directors. He is a former president of the Black MBA Association and on the CEO Roundtable at the University of Chicago, where he chairs the Topics Committee.
Keith is a person of integrity, who is dedicated to serving our community. There is one other strength he brings to the Board: He cares deeply about the children in our District who have special needs. As the parent of a special-needs child, I want to get the best possible services for my child and others like him. I know Keith is dedicated to this goal.
I hope you will join me in voting for Keith Terry for District 65 School
Board.
--Nancy Traver
Bailey for District 65
Editor:
We are writing in support of Katie Bailey's candidacy for District 65 School Board. One of us grew up in Evanston and attended District 65 schools. The other is a former teacher and has lived in Evanston for seventeen years. We met Katie in 1995 and have since developed a strong friendship through helping each other as neighbors, raising children of similar ages, and volunteering together at Dewey School. We believe that the qualities that have solidified our friendship are the same qualities that will be an asset to the School Board. Katie is intelligent, energetic, curious and has a good sense of humor. She wants to know others' opinions and wants to share hers. When opinions differ, she genuinely wants to understand why. Moreover, she is not timid about discussing difficult issues.
Katie has acted on her commitment to District 65 by volunteering in the
classroom, serving in various PTA roles, and being a part of School Improvement
Teams. She understands the breadth of issues facing District 65,
and she appreciates the many perspectives on these issues. Katie's
ability to think analytically, work hard and speak frankly will help the
Board focus on its responsibilities.
--Brian Gratch and Michelle Ney
Elect an Educator to D65
Editor:
Bonnie Lockhart has devoted her life to the education of others and has an excellent grasp of how people learn.
Since the Board's leadership will make the ultimate impact on creating a positive learning environment for our young citizens, Bonnie's proven consensus-building skills will be of vast importance as the Board deliberates issues affecting the future of the District.
Bonnie is focused, well-organized and committed to our youth. She is an exemplary model graduate of the Evanston/Skokie school system and involved as a parent of two teenage children. Through her many activities she is familiar with the entire community and will be responsive to needs of all constituents.
I urge you to vote for a leader, educator and catalyst for moving forward
with a positive attitude.
--Nan Anderson
Bailey for D65 School Board
Editor:
I am writing to express my enthusiastic support of Katie Bailey's candidacy for District 65 School Board. I have known Katie for ten years and I have experienced firsthand her tireless commitment to children, when she was served as PTA President and Treasurer at Dewey School, as a member of the School Improvement Teams at Dewey and Nichols, and in countless other ways.
As a committed volunteer and District 65 parent, Katie is on intimate terms with the challenges facing our schools. She also brings the training of a Wharton MBA, the listening skills of a team player, and the energy of a busy mother of four.
Katie is dedicated to creating more collaborative relationships among School Board members, the Superintendent, teachers and parents, and to renewing the Board's commitment to its core functions. Katie believes the Board mustnot micromanage the District's affairs, but should always hold the administration - and itself - strictly accountable for the achievement of well-thought-out Districts goals.
Along with her sense of humor and ability to get the job done, Katie
has the vision the District needs to succeed. Please give Katie your
vote on April 17!
--Lynne Raimondo
Terry - A Positive Vote
Editor:
Weenthusiastically support Keith Terry in his campaign for D65 School Board, and are grateful for his willingness to take on this responsibility.
Keith is highly motivated to help unify an often dividedSchool Board, and ensure that it operates effectively. Over the years, Keith has demonstratedstrong commitment to the Evanston communityand the children who live here.Keith has the communication skills, as well as the leadership and decision-making experience, necessary to be a positive contributor to the Board.
All of Evanston will benefit if Keith Terry is elected. I urge
residents to vote for Keith Terry on April 17.
--Tim and Mary Rosinski