Lydia Galante: 2023 candidate for Roselle Elementary District 12 board

Bio

Town: Roselle

Age on Election Day: 34

Occupation: Early Childhood Professional

Employer: Self-employed

Previous offices held: Currently serving as the treasurer of the Roselle Public Library Foundation and as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. No elected offices held currently or in the past.

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 feel that going into an elected office with an agenda is an extremely slippery slope. It can blind you to factual evidence and to the valid input of others.

Instead, I'm approaching this as an opportunity to give my time and effort into researching and exploring everything the board of education can do to support the children of District 12.

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

A: The school board plays a major role in setting and monitoring curriculum. Hiring administration who have expertise in state standards and then continually dialoguing with said administration ensures that the needs of the students and community are met and hopefully surpassed.

If new curriculum is brought before the board of education, I plan to conduct a thorough review and I believe that all curriculum should be backed by fact and not opinion.

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

A: I foresee the National Sex Education Standards becoming a talking point within District 12 staff and the community at large. This could possibly turn into a curriculum issue based on the Illinois Senate Amendment #1 of HB 5188 passing or not.

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: Frankly, I think that my role in confronting controversy is a fluid one. As a board of education member, it would be my job to provide leadership on policy or curriculum controversies to District 12 even if it is unpopular.

It would also be my job as an elected official to listen to the voices of all constituents whether their opinion aligns with mine or not.

As the board of education is charged with ensuring compliance to state regulations, there have been situations in the past where board members have deferred to state authorities. It's important for me as a member of the board to realize that all three of these options are viable ways to resolve issues.

Depending on the situation, the board is faced with, each of these options should be carefully considered to ensure the best resolution to a specific agenda item.

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: When it comes to decision making and policy implementation, I think the most important thing we learned is that health and medical staff are truly irreplaceable. Evidence-based, peer-reviewed research and conclusions by doctors, scientists, and epidemiologists will guide my decision making in the case of another massive 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: In my role as treasurer of the Roselle Public Library Foundation, I led a committee revising the investment practices written in the bylaws.

As a member of Green Roselle, I studied the Greenest Region Compact before it was successfully presented to and adopted by the village board.

Most recently, I've worked within the village of Roselle on a steering committee to provide guidance for zoning code updates.

Prior to any meetings, I thoroughly research opinions coming from both sides and any new court rulings that might drive policy. I listen to the expertise of people who have come before me and use that as a tool. Utilizing thorough research and respectful dialogue is the most effective way to deliver desirable actions and decisions, benefiting all students and families of District 12.

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

A: My involvement within multiple community organizations demonstrates the importance of taking an active role within our community. I feel that the responsibilities provided to the board of education require a person who has seen the importance of performing the necessary research and engaging in productive group discussion.

I will bring these prior experiences into my new position as a member of the board of education and I look forward to the opportunity to work within the District 12 community.

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

A: I'd love for the board of education and District 12 administration to foster a sense of community with other organizations and businesses based in Roselle.

Teaching students the importance of strong community ties improves their sense of self and demonstrates the positive impacts that local organizations and businesses have on the Village of Roselle.

Giving students the opportunity to opt-in to community-based service projects leads to improved social abilities, better classroom cooperation skills, and reinforces the social-emotional skills that they're learning in their classrooms.