Dru R. Steinhoff: 2021 candidate for Hoffman Estates Park District board

Bio

City: Hoffman Estates

Age: 54

Occupation: Teacher's assistant for Special Education and Palatine-Schaumburg Township High School District 211

Civic involvement: None listed

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. The main reason I am running for park board commissioner in Hoffman Estates is to ensure tax payer's money is being wisely spent on enriching the lives of our community. As a lifelong Hoffman Estates resident and the youngest of seven children, my family took full advantage of the programs, parks, and facilities the HEPD offered. We played football, baseball, soccer, swim team, cheerleading and my family had season passes every summer to the community pool. The HEPD had such a big impact on my life that I decided to major in Parks and Recreation with my main focus to provide the same or even better opportunities to the community that I had growing up. The world is changing rapidly. In these hard times with many people out of work, every dollar matters. My goal is to help the HEPD to find ways to bring kids and families back to the park district during and after this pandemic. I'd like to offer the HEPD the knowledge and experience that I have gained by working in the recreation field for the past 30 years in hopes to make a difference in my community.

Q. Did your park district continue to adequately serve its constituents 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. I think the HEPD tried its best during the pandemic. Some ideas and programs succeeded better than others. The fitness instructors at The Club did a nice job of providing online fitness workout videos to try and keep its members and the community engaged and off the couch. The recreation department held a drive by Santa event that sold out and the basketball academy seems to be taking off. The HEPD continued with full time day care for working parents by providing programs such as Study Hall which provided kids help with remote learning. Preschool held virtual story time for younger age children. A couple of things which would have been nice would have been finding a way to connect with our large senior population. Seniors were one of the largest hit by the pandemic and in most need of social contact. Maybe teaching them how to Zoom so that they could have coffee time or virtual get-togethers with their friends at the HEPD. I would have also liked to seen them expand on the basketball academy and offer one on one instruction for other sports such as volleyball, soccer and baseball and not just basketball.

Q. In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A. I think a lot has been learned from this pandemic but hopefully this is not and will not be the norm. I think the park district put in a lot of sanitizer stations and the constant cleaning of equipment and facilities has greatly improved. This pandemic has created a good base for the HEPD to be able to react quicker now that it has more virtual resources, knowledge and safety safeguards/guidelines built in case of any emergency situation.

Q. How has the pandemic affected the park district's offerings and use of facilities. Are there other ways the park board can fulfill the mission of a park district during these times?

A. The HEPD was forced to close facilities and cancel many park district programs. By offering virtual opportunities the park district was able to help its residents and the Study Hall program that helped students with remote learning was a big help to working parents. The park board needs to rely on staff; that they have hired the right professionals to carry out the services and needs of the community and to promote policies that allows staff to be able to do so.

Q. How has the pandemic affected the park district's revenue? How has that been addressed on the expense side?

A. The HEPD lost millions of dollars in program registration and membership dues. One way the HEPD was able to save money was to not open Seascape Family Aquatic Center during the summer of 2020. Unfortunately another way the park district saved money in the pandemic was to eliminate full-time and part time jobs and to cut hours at the facilities. There was also a hold on all spending.