Robert Bruno: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: Glen EllynWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D41SchoolBoardCandidate/Office sought: Glen Ellyn District 41 School Board Age: 62Family: Married, wife Lynn, retired Glen Ellyn Dist 41 teacher Daughter, Sarah, North Central College SeniorOccupation: University ProfessorEducation: Phd Political Science, New York UniversityCivic involvement: My volunteer contributions have been a mix of activties with different organizations. For example, I co-edit an academic journal. I'm also a member of several national professional associations, as well as serve on a number of profesional association executive boards. I also served on the city of Chicago's Task Force on Working Families. Additionally, I have been an advisory board member of a faith and justice organization, a Sunday school teacher, and a Glen Ellyn 5th grade room parent.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?My interest in serving on the District 41 Board of Education originates in over two decades of professional work in education. As a Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign I have engaged with matters of instructional practices, teacher evaluations, student assessments, program development, administrative relationships, financial sustainability, education policy and governance. I have hired and evaluated staff, mentored colleagues, managed budgets, developed a long-range strategic plan, authored and presented research at national conferences, and lead new educational and research initiatives. I have learned from my students that education is a collective activity, built on a trusted relationship between participants. Learning takes place when there is mutual respect and understanding between the teacher and the learner. In this emotional and intellectual safe space the learners' feelings and knowledge can be challenged and directed by the teacher in a meaningful way. The objective of an education is for students to think critically, to become active citizens; people competent enough to fully recognize and investigate the social-cultural-economic conditions of their life. Since the early 1980s public schools have been a fertile terrain for debates on education policy. I am interested in serving on the board because I recognize that public education sits at the epicenter of every contested ideal of what equal opportunity means in America. I am inspired therefore to try and make a contribution, at this moment in time, to the lives of students, the work of educators, and the interests of the community in a high performing school system.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?The most effective way to assess student growth is through standards-based measurement reporting. The strength of a narrative rubric of multiple standards is that students and parents are given a clear, objective and comprehensive summary of how a child is doing. Instruction and assistance can then be delivered where it is truly needed in order to help the student succeed. The MAP test is a useful assessment tool for several reasons. Because the tests are administered during the fall, winter and spring, MAP scores can be helpful in signaling to teachers and parents the areas in which a student may need help and in shaping instruction. The test is also adaptive to a student's learning level and provides a more accurate picture of a child's grade competency. In addition, the design of the MAP test and its frequency allows a teacher to develop a student's long-term academic performance trend.The PARCC test however, is designed to insure that a percentage of students will fail. Additionally, high-stakes testing mandates which are tied to school ratings, teacher evaluations and student assessments have assumed a disproportionate amount of importance, destructive to learning. PARCC is very time consuming, robbing instructional time from both teacher and student and invites teaching to the test as opposed to the needs of the child. On the other hand, education research has found that teacher devised classroom assessments are the best predictors of future success. Finally, standardized tests suffer from their inability to measure a student's critical thinking skills.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?It is not the role of the school board to design or select a curriculum. After careful consideration the board of education adopts a recommended curriculum based on the research and expertise of its school administration and teachers. Classroom teachers (82% with a Masters degree or higher and a retention rate that exceeds the state average) and district curriculum experts are far better equipped to research, design, test, recommend and implement curriculum plans. It is the job of the board to provide broad goals, support (i.e., material, personnel and professional development) and nurturing for the transformational work that its skilled school employees recommend. As the Illinois School Board Association makes clear "the single most important job of a school board is to employ a superintendent and to hold him or her responsible for managing the schools in accordance with state law and the school board's policies." It goes on to define a "good school board" as one that knows "the difference between governance (which is their job) and management (which is the administration's job) and place a high priority on respecting that difference." While every school board has to navigate the relationship, I strongly agree with this balance. As a board member I will solicit creative ideas, encourage discussion, and provide a safe space for school and district personnel to pursue the Learning Objectives of its Long-Range Strategic Plan.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?District 41 will have a referendum on the ballot this April 4th and I support its passage. The measure will smartly address required accessibility needs, critical life safety infrastructure, and remove ten temporary instructional areas to provide permanent classroom space at the middle school. In a rarity for school referendums, the borrowing will actually result in a drop to the average homeowners' property tax payments. While the referendum is a logical extension of capital upgrades begun years ago, the district has signaled its commitment to a number of community supported projects, like adopting full-day kindergarten, upgrading music education and performance spaces, and expanding it's middle-school cafeteria. Full-day kindergarten has been popular since 2014. The next board will need to manage its finances with these valuable endeavors in mind. The district has done a very good job implementing effective curriculum plans at both the elementary and middle school grades, which have produced impressive student performance at all grade levels. The 2016 School Perceptions Community Survey reflected impressive support for the district's performance. And it is equally notable that the staff and district administration have done so at what a third-party financial analyst has called an "Extraordinary value per tax dollar." Based on an analysis provided to the district, D41 spends less per pupil than only eight of the 37 school districts it measures itself against. In the end, what can be accomplished will come down to what kind and quality of schools the community wants for its children.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?As adopted in many U.S. and some Illinois jurisdictions school choice (e.g., charters and vouchers) has not proven a panacea to school performance. While some large urban school systems (e.g., Massachusetts) have designed choice options that have been successful, the bulk of educational research shows that charter schools and vouchers have not produced higher performing schools. In fact, the highest performing schools in Illinois are well-resourced, conventional public schools, like Glen Ellyn's District 41 and not charters schools. Public schools with effective leaders, collaborative teachers, a supportive environment, ambitious instruction and involved families achieve high marks. They do all this while accepting all students regardless of special education and behavioral needs, unlike charters, which are allowed to operate without the same degree of community oversight. Choice has become a disingenuous concept for underfunding neighborhood schools and shifting public funds into privately operated businesses. Public schools have been this country's critical institution for bridging racial, ethnic, gender and class differences. It is within the public schoolhouse that every generation restores democracy. Our job as public school board members is to advocate for the public school system and demonstrate the contributions that our schools make to the heath of the community, Illinois, and the nation.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am aware of the uncertainty of future state funding for education in Illinois. Despite having the 5th largest state economy, Illinois provides only 30% of the total funds for k-12 education. The amount is well below the national average and places a burden on local property taxpayers. The current budget climate may further stress a school's ability to meet its obligations if a two-year property tax freeze is implemented. School districts, unlike the state or city governments do not have additional operational funding mechanisms. It is important that the community and school board understand the critical role that property taxes perform in educating our children. It is essential that the recent work done by dozens of teachers, district staff, community members and superintendent is sustained and allowed to evolve. There is much to celebrate in District 41. From problem-based learning projects to the value of content specialization, the district has been continuously attentive to what is best for student learning. Educational governance demands that school board members remain vigorously focused on the changing landscape of higher education and the modern workplace. School districts that adopt 21st Century approaches to learning, provide facilities that inspire creative student performance, invest in its school employees' talents, and respect the wishes of its parents to provide a prosperous future for their children will be meeting their commitment to the community. Paraphrasing what a District 41 elementary school principal beautifully expressed, we are dedicated to teaching to our students' future, not to our past.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.The word leader gives me pause. But I'm inspired by my students, by my teachers, by the people who make the trains run on time.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents and neighbors taught me to respect the hard work that people do every day to build community and live a meaningful life.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?If I had one do-over I would have continued to develop my Spanish language skills so that today I would be fully bi-lingual.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I loved history. It reminded me that the world is built one decision, one act at a time and that the future is not predetermined.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I tell my daughter everyday that she should learn something new and make good decisions.