Steve Wang: 2025 candidate for Barrington Unit District 220 board

Bio

Office sought: Barrington Unit District 220 board (Vote for 4)

City: Barrington

Age: 40

Occupation: Nonprofit healthcare financial administration

Previous offices held: Barrington Unit District 220 board member since 2021

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

My motivation to seek reelection is identical to my initial motivation to run four years ago: I want to represent the great people of our district and the needs of their families. The landscape today is complex and there is not one singular issue that dominates.

Rather, I look to address the diverse needs across our district including, though certainly not limited to, leading the recently passed referendum (Transform 220), implementing Framework 220 (the strategic plan of the district, designed with community input), and ensuring continued evolution in how we deliver education in an ever-changing environment with advancing technology and labor market demands.

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

The school board’s role in setting and monitoring the curriculum is simply to ensure we comply with the standards as established by the Illinois State Board of Education. The district already has measures in place to review, revise and implement new materials on a multiyear cycle for each area of study and the board’s role is to govern and affirm those actions.

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

If this question was asked four years ago, the answer would have been a resounding yes: the board needs to modify the way the curriculum is implemented.

Prior to my current term on the board, the active curriculum was presented for review in the fall, after the school year had already begun.

I am very pleased that administration has modified the timeline, with board oversight, and now presents the curriculum in the winter prior to the start of the school year in which the curriculum will be effective.

As a result, parents and the board have an opportunity to review the curriculum and ask questions ahead of its implementation. Thus, it is currently my opinion, there are no issues related to curriculum.

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 first four years I served on the school board were unfortunately marred with controversy. To be frank, the first two years were extraordinarily challenging due to polar division among the constituency in terms of how to set policy on various matters that had dichotomous viewpoints.

Throughout this time, I tirelessly made efforts to work with constituents on both sides of the matters and understand each opinion. Independently, I researched the matters. Then, I synthesized what I learned to develop a recommendation on what is best for the community as a whole.

In most instances this necessitated finding a compromise to largely meet the needs of both sides without negatively impacting either. My personal opinions appropriately did not factor into my recommendations. Furthermore, if the state implemented a policy, we followed it.

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.

In both my professional and volunteering endeavors, I consistently find myself working in group settings so that decisions can be made in the best interest of the whole. I prefer to listen first and speak second so that I can learn from my colleagues.

From there, if there is new information or input, I will articulate my views. After all positions are presented, I welcome a discussion around the ramifications of our decision, potential risks, and both short-term and long-term impacts.

This type of model promotes unity among the board as each person is heard and the majority decision is something that we can all support.

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 applaud the district’s efforts in celebrating the many cultures, beliefs, ideas, and needs found in our diverse community. We have a district equity team composed of both district and community members that manages our district efforts.

I have had the joy of attending these meetings as this committee rotates board members and I am pleased with the goals. In recent weeks, several public comments revolved around Student Services and Support, which I would like to see more focus on in the near future.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I seek to do my best in all endeavors, and have devoted myself to uphold this standard in my role as a member of the Barrington 220 board. I strive each day to meet with constituents, work with faculty and administration, and educate myself on ways to improve our district. I work diligently to serve our district and, if re-elected, commit to doing the same for another four years.

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

Finance is not only my day job; it is also my passion. As such, I place meaningful focus on how to best manage the complex financial operations of our district. Fiscal management is a key component in effectively operating a school district. Therefore, I find great satisfaction in applying my professional training to the district.

While most decisions on how to allocate our limited resources is around cost management, I recently introduced a renewed effort around revenue enhancement.

In my studies, I have found that other school districts have found ways to generate resources via grants as well as marketing. Accordingly, it is something I have asked our administration to further investigate. I look forward to seeing what results this study will yield and how our district will benefit from this work.