Gaspare 'Jasper' Vaiana: 2023 candidate for Carol Stream Elementary District 93 board, 4-year term

Bio

Town: Carol Stream

Age on Election Day: 46

Occupation: Human resources manager

Employer: Power Solutions International

Previous offices held: Appointed to District 93 board in October 2022

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?

A: I interviewed and was appointed a seat on the District 93 school board in October 2022. I am running for a full 4-year term. The reason I am running for reelection is to continue my involvement in the community.

My wife and I have been residents of Carol Stream for over 16 years and have raised our three children in this community. My son is currently a junior at Glenbard North. I have a daughter in eighth grade at Jay Stream and another daughter in fourth grade at Western Trails.

I have enjoyed volunteering and spending my time coaching them in various sporting activities, such as tee ball, basketball and soccer. I have also participated in the PTA at Western Trails and volunteered to assist with holiday parties and other events. I was also a Cub Master for Cub Scout Pack 196, as well as an active participant in the committee to plan events and fundraising.

There is no particular issue that motivates me to continue being on the board, other than my commitment to the community.

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

A: The role of the school board is to approve the school district's curriculum and advocating for the educational needs of the children in the community.

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

A: I feel the district is continuing to move in the right direction, as can be seen by the Illinois State Board of Education's official summative designation of Commendable.

Q: 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?

A: My role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies is to listen to arguments, for or against, keeping my personal feelings out of any decision making. My voice is only one out of seven board members. I agree with having a healthy discussion regarding any topic, but in the end, my goal is to do what is best for the children in the community.

Q: Concerns are growing regarding a new resurgence of the pandemic. If another massive outbreak of infectious disease occurs, what have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that will guide your decision making?

A: We continue to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. One thing I learned was that you will never please everyone, regardless of the decision that is made. I have felt that the pandemic had become too political.

When dealing with a situation such as we did, we have to trust our leaders and elected officials and follow the laws that govern us. If there is anything that can be done at the local level, then we need to listen to all sides and do what we feel is best for everyone.

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

A: In my 20 plus years as a human resources professional, I have had plenty of experience in creating and revising policy. I tend to create different scenarios in which I feel the policy may affect and try to find holes in it before a case presents itself.

In this instance, I play devil's advocate. Doing this has helped others with seeing how the policy would play out in real time and provided guidance with how a particular policy should be written and implemented. This has helped me in my profession, and I feel this has and will continue to help within the school district.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I am the best candidate for this position because of my extensive experience in human resources and my involvement in the community. Plus, seeing my children and their peers grow within this school district brings the decisions made by the board closer to home.

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

A: I would like to see the PTA from each school present something at a board meeting to show different successes or opportunities they have had or encountered at their respective schools.

We would then be able to collaborate on any fixes that are needed or implement their successes at other schools.

Another thing I have seen in my many years in this community is that there are the same volunteers at every event. I would like to get input on how we can drive up more community involvement to benefit everyone.