Jason (Jay) Bastian: 2025 candidate for Glenbard High School District 87 board

Bio

Office Sought: Glenbard High School District 87 board (Vote for 4)

City: Carol Stream

Age: 40

Occupation: No answer given

Previous offices held: Carol Stream District 93 board member (current term expires in April)

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

As a past PTA president, schoolwide volunteer reader and current PTA treasurer and elementary district board member, I have always had a passion for public education and student success. I recently served on the committee that supported the District 87 bond referendum. This helped me have a better understanding of the Glenbard community as a whole and served as the catalyst for my decision to serve a larger community.

With so much uncertainty at the national level, I believe it is crucial to let our students and families know that we at the district level support them and their right to a public education. That we are unwavering in our commitment of fostering a safe and welcoming environment for every student who walks through our doors.

What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring the curriculum?

The superintendent, who is hired and evaluated by the school board, is tasked with having an administrative team that sets and monitors the curriculum. The school board is responsible for board policy and board goals. I believe the board, in partnership with the superintendent, is responsible for ensuring board policy, goals and curriculum are always aligned with the goal of improving the academic outcome of all students.

Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?

I support a constant review of the curriculum to ensure it is setting our students up for success during high school and beyond. I believe curriculum always needs attention from the board and administration. The district currently has a student performance committee that focuses on curriculum, and I support the review of curriculum through committee as well as high level discussions at regular board meetings.

How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents — even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?

The Illinois School Code governs much of what we must do, and it's the responsibility of the board and administration to follow the school code. For policy matters that are decided by the board, my philosophy is to always do what I believe provides the greatest benefit to the most students.

I also believe policy and curriculum should support our most vulnerable students. I am always willing to listen to all constituents and if in their concern, I can find a way to support the most students and our most vulnerable students, I will advocate for those concerns. If I can't, I believe it is important to express to constituents, as a board, why we choose the policies and curriculum that we do.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions for your school board.

As a current board member for a feeder district I am used to working in a group setting to determine policy. I believe in stating not only my positions, but my rationale for my views and how I believe any changes will look in the long term and what benefits they will bring.

Stating policy views and expected outcomes allows for a natural discussion of agreements and disagreements among the board. This allows a board majority to settle on a policy which we are all responsible for the success of. And for the administration to see our vision which will help in their implementation of any policy decisions.

What is your assessment of the school district's diversity and equity efforts? Do you support the continuation or enhancement of such programs, of would you rather see them diminished. Please explain your reasoning.

I unequivocally support all diversity and equity efforts. I believe as a society we have a responsibility to ensure everyone has an opportunity at success. To do that, we must recognize not everyone starts their journey at the same place.

We must understand we have a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences in our district. As the adults in the room, I believe it is our responsibility to meet our students where they are on their educational journey to help ensure they will be successful.

I believe we will get the very best out of our students if we show them that we accept them, celebrate them, and are willing to give them the opportunities they need to be successful, and that doesn’t look the same for any two students.

We have on average 160 students a year that drop out of Glenbard schools. By enhancing our support for diversity, equity, and inclusion, I believe we can lower that number.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I believe my role as a school volunteer, a young parent raising three future Glenbard students, the spouse of an educator, and my school board experience all make me a good candidate for Glenbard 87 Board of Education. I keep a dual focus on success for the most students and the most vulnerable.

I recognize that one board member has no authority to change policy and that it takes four votes. That administration doesn't, and shouldn't, change policy based on individual board member preferences, but based on what the board sets. I come to board meetings prepared and am an active participant, so every stakeholder always knows where I stand on all issues.

What’s one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?

While school boundaries are a constant subject of discussion in Glenbard, I believe the idea of non-biased, third-party consultants reviewing our demographics and drawing equitable boundaries based on data from our feeder districts is long past due.

Glenbard and the feeder districts commission demographic studies every five years and I would like to see us enlist an outside party, like other districts have done, to create unbiased and equitable boundaries based on this data. I've seen firsthand how boundaries redrawn by boards to have a minimal impact can have several negative consequences and because of this I will advocate for a complete, unbiased review of boundaries.