Paul Troy: 2021 candidate for Huntley District 158 school board

10 candidates are running for four, 4-year seats on the Huntley School District 158 board. Tara Masino did not complete a questionnaire.

Bio

Village: Lake in the Hills

Occupation: Financial Adviser

Employer: Edward Jones

Civic involvement: First Church, Crystal Lake

Q&A

Q. Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?

A. I have served on the District 158 Board of Education since 2009. I am proudly committed to the academic, financial, and student well-being goals outlined in the 5 Year Strategic Plan. Our strategic plan outlines the community's long-term vision and priorities to ensure student success while in District 158. I am motivated by the shared vision and culture of excellence as a "Destination District." We excel through educational innovations in instruction, technology, and finance in support of our students, families, and community as the district continues to attract families to the community. Our students receive a high-class education: I've seen it in my children, my neighbor's children, and the children across the district. Our parents know this and speak highly of the education their children have received. I am also motivated to safely reopen our schools and restore student activities in accordance with current science and updated guidelines. I also want our district to continue to help students and staff through the social-emotional challenges brought about by this pandemic, and I support closing the learning gaps students may have developed.

Q. How would you grade the current school board on its response to the pandemic? Why?

A. Our board has learned a lot through this experience. The school district made substantial investments in 1-to-1 learning technology and curricula, so the transition to online learning was far smoother than most other districts. Blended Learning courses prepared many high school teachers for online learning, and teachers moved mountains to quickly pivot to the new digital learning environment. I wish students could have returned to in-person learning sooner than January, but we were held to the standards set forth by county and state Health Departments as well as the CDC. We opened the schools with a building-specific hybrid learning model. Many students returned to classroom learning in a safe and socially distanced environment with others choosing a remote learning option for their children. We celebrate being a vaccine distribution site for our staff and other McHenry County educators. For these reasons, I would rate the district's response as an A-.

Q. How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?

A. Overall, I believe there must be a balance between the three roles stated in the question - and that is exactly what I and our board have done in confronting this pandemic. To some, the board's leadership direction may be unpopular, while to others, it may be favorable, yet we have an obligation to follow the laws of the state even if they are unpopular. Additionally, as community leaders confronting the pandemic, I believe our role is to trust the experts, trust the science and look out for the welfare of our students, staff and community. This has not been easy during the pandemic and not all the choices we have made were popular. A school district's role is to educate the students in the community. The greater good for all students continues to be my guiding light through the challenges of the pandemic. I am excited that with staff vaccinations, we are turning a corner toward a return to normal conditions for our students and staff members.

Q. Did your district continue to adequately serve students during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to continue providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A. Yes, I believe our district adequately served students during the pandemic disruptions. Because District 158 made substantial investments in 1-to-1 learning technology and curricula, the transition to online learning was far smoother than most other districts. High school students enrolled in blended classes were already familiar with remote classrooms, while in the lower grades, students had their own Chromebooks. The pandemic precipitated the leap to exclusive online learning. I credit families for helping their children adapt and teachers for pivoting to adjust their instructional delivery and engagement strategies with heightened attention to student well-being. None of this was easy for anyone and some growing pains were experienced along the way. Unique student populations were first to safely return to the buildings and engage in face-to-face instruction. The second wave of students returned to classrooms on a limited basis as space and social distancing guidelines permitted. The hurdles to accomplish this monumental shift were challenging and I applaud our students, families and employees for their dedication and perseverance through such extraordinary challenges.

Q. Do you have a plan on how to safely and effectively conduct classes in the spring? What have you learned from the fall semester that you would change in the spring?

A. District 158 has returned students to school in an A/B format for middle and high school students and a half-day model for elementary students. Our goal is to return all students who want to be in the building full-time as soon as possible. We learned that we have to be even more attentive to the needs of our students and faculty's social-emotional needs. There is no doubt this pandemic has uprooted all our lives. We know there are academic gaps that will need to be addressed to get kids where they need to be. Our team is already preparing professional development for our teachers on this important topic. As students return fully to school, we will continue to use our safety protocols such as social distancing, reduced class sizes due to spacing limitations, frequent hand washing, mask mandates, lowered number of students on our buses and limit visitors in our schools. With much of our staff now vaccinated and the number of positive COVID cases declining, we are encouraged that we can accomplish this. We look forward to hosting modified end-of-the-year events to celebrate all the numerous accomplishments during this COVID school year.

Q. What is your position on allowing high school sports to continue during the pandemic? Be specific.

A. I applaud the IHSA and IESA for providing direction, schedules, IDPH risk levels and mitigation guidance for the return of sports and performing arts (Speech, Debate, Drama, Music) activities this spring. Student activities, such as sports, the fine arts and clubs, are a vital part of the student experience and this modest return to normalcy is welcomed by many people. These activities are important for students to develop their skills and confidence, explore areas of interest and deepen social interactions. As the school year draws to a close, limited calendar time clearly remains for practices and competitions to occur, and multi-sport/multi-activity students will face vigorous practice and game schedules alongside their academic rigors. Lastly, I want to recognize that not all activities will be returning and I grieve with those students, particularly graduating seniors, whose activities were outright canceled with no planned return in the spring.