Kara Caforio: 2021 candidate for Elmhurst Unit District 205 board
Six candidates are running for three, 4-year terms on the Elmhurst Unit District 205 board of trustees in the April 6 election. They are incumbents Kara Caforio and Jim Collins, and challengers Athena Arvanitis, T. Marie Gall, Laurel Schrementi and Gordon Snyder.
The Daily Herald asked each candidate about issues facing the district and how they would contribute to its progress.
In-person early voting with paper ballots is now available at the DuPage County Fairgrounds Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. In-person early voting with touch-screen voting begins March 22 at locations throughout the county. Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting/.
Bio
City: Elmhurst
Age: 46
Occupation: Currently board president-3 years
Civic involvement: Elected school board member/first term/president
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 ran for the board in 2017. We had good schools but I believed, then and now, we want excellent schools. I have since worked tirelessly to challenge the status quo and advocate on behalf of our students and taxpayers.
In the past 3 years, under my leadership as board president, we passed a $168 million referendum touching all 13 buildings; implemented Dual Language; added all-day kindergarten; improved curriculum and instructional models, especially for Special Education and ELL students; expanded STEM including a manufacturing lab and business incubator; increased yearly maintenance projects to bring our buildings back to life; exercised wise fiscal responsibility; earned placement on ISBE's Financial Recognition; secured a permanent home for our Transition Students; and resolved long-standing stormwater issues with the City of Elmhurst.
Excellence is achieved through strategic decisions and the ability to bring us together to accomplish much. As I pursue my second term, I believe there is much more to do as we take our place as a nationally recognized, top ranked district that is known not only by what is achieved, but by the depth of our character.
Q: How would you grade the current school board on its response to the pandemic? Why?
A: Hindsight is literally 2020 and I would be remiss if I did not reflect with a critical eye on the past year in order to learn and use those learnings to build our future. I would give us a 'B' on our response to the pandemic. We as a Board of education have spent hours simultaneously navigating our regular business and the difficulties of the pandemic. We have analyzed data, adjusted to rapidly changing information, considered guidance from the CDC/IDPH/DCHD, listened to our community and weighed the impact of decisions on not just our 10,000 students and staff, but our entire community.
Considering the physical health and safety, mental health and educational needs of 10,000 students and staff as well as the families they go home to has been incredibly difficult. There has been no perfect solution.
Overall, I believe we have taken a thoughtful, measured approach using the information available in the moment and continue to be committed to building on our learnings and successes. The road has been rough with unexpected challenges along the way, but our students and staff are safe, our school buildings are open and our students are learning.
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: I believe as an elected leader and especially as president of the board of education it is my responsibility to provide sensitive, steady and thoughtful leadership (even when unpopular) as we navigate the pandemic as a community.
Last spring, as restrictions on our normal way of life were put in place and traditions and celebrations had to be canceled, we, as board of education members, found ourselves at the epicenter of frustration and anxiety as our community began to feel the pain and uncertainty of our reality.
For the past (almost) year, I have listened to hundreds of public comments, read and responded to countless emails, observed social media posts, made numerous personal phone calls and encouraged multiple surveys of students, staff and families in order to listen and understand the various voices in our community. Even when uncomfortable, I have worked to incorporate the community's feedback into discussions and decisions, considered all ideas while attempting to educate and give context as decisions are made.
In a world where the perfect answer is allusive and criticism plentiful, finding balance and remaining steadfast has been imperative in navigating the pandemic.
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: Our district, with board support, worked to insure all our students had access to learning whether at home or school and meet the varying needs of our students. We purchased additional technology to insure every student had a device for home, added technology for our staff, provided professional development for remote instruction, and offered webinars to support families with remote learning. Students have been welcome to pick up prepared breakfasts and lunches outside our buildings since spring.
Our community stepped in to fill additional gaps with mobile food pantries, Wi-Fi hot spots, lunches when schools were on break and gift cards for students and families in need. As the pandemic has lingered on, mental health resources have been expanded to help meet growing needs and a York Saturday Success Academy was established at the high school to support students' academic needs. And while there has been an incredible dedicated effort to address the needs of all our students during the pandemic, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the unique difficulties this year has brought each of our students who needed ongoing in-person support and resources to thrive.
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: Yes, we have a plan and I have learned not to be afraid to make adjustments to the plan as needed. We were in a hybrid model for a portion of fall 2020 and have been in a hybrid model since January 2021. A process recently began to bring all students back into our buildings with the current modified schedule that does not include lunch and maintains a full-remote option for those who prefer or need remote during a quarantine.
We continue with our established safety practices, monitor the numbers in our community and classrooms, hired contact tracers to assist with quarantines, will be implementing saliva testing at grades 6-12, and are incredibly grateful our teachers and staff have begun to receive vaccinations. Each family has the option to attend in person or fully remote and can make a change at spring break.
As a board of education, we committed to open our buildings for in person learning, work to stay open and build on our progress to expand opportunities for our students. Each board meeting, we assess our progress and discuss next steps within our current realities. I look forward to returning to full operations as soon as possible and will continue to work to that end.
Q: What is your position on allowing high school sports to continue during the pandemic? Be specific.
A: In the fall of 2020, York High School students safely participated in the various sports and activities allowed by the IHSA. We currently have students participating in the allowable IHSA winter sports and intend to have our students participate in IHSA spring sports. Our coaches and administrators have done an excellent job putting safety measures in place so that our students can compete. As a current board member, I am in full support of our students having the opportunity to participate in sports and extracurriculars with safety measures in place. I am grateful to be part of a board and a district that values the student experience and has been dedicated to supporting our students during this time.