Gene Haring: 2023 candidate for Des Plaines School District 62 board

Bio

Town: Des Plaines

Age on Election Day: 71

Occupation: Marketing and public relations

Employer: Haring & Associates

Previous offices held: No elected offices

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: To continue the excellent work of the current D62 School Board, support the administration, ensure that teachers have all the resources they need, and work to make sure our students are part of the best-educated generation in history. Communication. Making sure that parents and students can get the information they need quickly and easily - whether it's specific to their school or districtwide - via the website, text messages, emails and newsletters is key to engaging them with principals, teachers, staff and administrators. Good communication helps everyone understand what's going on today, this week, this month, this school year, so we can work together and provide the best education for every student.

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

A: Board members should review the curriculum with input from administrators, principals, teachers, staff, parents and members of the community. We should ensure that the current and planned instructional content, as well as any extracurricular activity, provides a complete education that prepares each student for the next grade, the next school, the next piece of technology, so they can be successful and contribute to the community.

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

A: Cultural arts (music, drawing, dance, theater), language arts and history.

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: Controversy, whether curriculum based or not, needs to be addressed by listening and providing fact-based and evidence-based solutions. Board members are certainly responsible to provide experienced leadership. Board meetings provide a public forum for all constituents to discuss and debate questions about the curriculum. Whether or not to defer to state authorities is an option if and when that solution is in the best interest of everyone concerned: Parents, students, teachers and the administration.

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: Public health professionals know the best way to prevent and treat disease. Facts, evidence, recommendations and scientific projections provided by health care authorities (local, state, national) should be used to determine how the district acts to contain any outbreak.

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: I served on the board of the Link Together Coalition, am currently on the board of trustees of the Des Plaines History Center, and have been on the 62 Strategic Planning Committee for five years. The best decisions that involve policy have been made by gathering input and guidance from people who have insight, knowledge and experience as to how a policy will ensure the organization achieves its goals. In the case of District 62, that includes students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, community organizations, business leaders and local and state elected officials. To reach agreements and manage policies I listen, research, and provide objective information based on both my experience and what I've learned by researching the issue. I find that being calm, presenting facts and evidence, and recognizing that compromise is often required typically results in the best outcome for all concerned.

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

A: I worked directly with D62 administrators, principals, teachers and staff for more than 16 years (2005-2022) as the Marketing & Communications manager for the Des Plaines Park District. I have deep connections to people, community organizations, business leaders and elected officials in Des Plaines. I continue the work to ensure that kids, teens, and adults have equal access to educational, cultural and healthy recreational opportunities that make their lives better in every way possible. As a board member, making sure that educators, parents and students are connected to the vast array of resources available to them from the park district, community organizations and businesses is one of the most important things I can do. I look forward to that.

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

A: I'm particularly interested in helping students and parents become aware of the latest evidence on how the brain develops, so that everyone has a better understanding of how we learn.