Campaign info

• Website: www.denis4d230.com
• E-mail address: denis4d230@gmail.com
• Phone: (708) 341-9463
• Address: Tinley Park

Personal Info

• Age: 24
• Family: Single
• Education: Duke University: economics and political science; Victor J. Andrew High School
• Occupation: Freelance consultant
• Political party affiliation, if any: Non-partisan
• Previous elected offices: This is my first time running for elected office.
• Applicable experience qualifying you for the position: I am a lifelong resident of District 230 and a proud graduate of Andrew High School and Duke University. I was extremely involved in high school and college and believe I am very much in touch with our district, our teachers, our parents and our community.

Candidate Questions

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

We are fortunate to live in an area with a good high school district. Unfortunately, being good makes it easy to be complacent. I am running for the board to ensure that there is an independent voice that constantly pushes our district forward and that challenges us to exceed expectations and to become an example for others. We need board members that tirelessly search for better and more effective ways to prepare our young people for success.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

District 230 has an outstanding Honors and Advanced Placement program but can do better when it comes to regular courses. In order to boost essential skills and to best prepare our students for life after high school, I will make it a priority to promote a more challenging mainstream curriculum and to expand the variety of resources and support available to help students rise to that challenge.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I am independent and bring a unique perspective to the table. I am not beholden to any special interests, and as such will be a fair and responsible member of the board. As a young person and a relatively recent graduate of our district, I deeply understand today’s high school experience and where we can improve. I know what it takes to do well at today’s universities, and I am familiar with the challenges of finding a first job in a difficult economy. 

What is the greatest challenge facing the school district, and how do you intend to work to overcome the issue?

District 230 is struggling with a reduced inflow of money from property taxes and state payments. Adding insult to injury, some of our current board members have become accustomed to spending at pre-recession levels. With a tighter budget, the district will need to make difficult decisions, and I will work to balance the budget by setting out clear priorities and reducing wasteful spending, not by raising taxes.  When the economy does improve, I will make it a priority to put aside money for future rainy days.

Issue-Specific Questions

District 230 has maintained a balanced budget for the last six years. This past year the budget was balanced in part with Tax Anticipation Warrants, which involve taking loans with interest from other entities, in the event the county was late on its payments. Is this a sound fiscal strategy, and would you endorse it in the future?  If not, what would be a better plan to maintain a balanced budget?

Frankly, a budget balanced with debt is not a balanced budget. Our board has taken an easy way out instead of looking for ways where we can be more efficient and trim unnecessary costs. Sadly, some board members have grown habituated to bull-market spending and have made too small an effort to develop long term plans to improve cost-effectiveness. I do not believe raising taxes is a wise idea when homeowners are struggling to stay afloat. We need to balance the budget responsibly by prioritizing where we spend and finding ways to be more efficient. 

How can the school district continue to manage with the recent decline in state funding?

First, state funding is a relatively small portion of our district’s total income.  Property taxes are the overwhelming source and until they genuinely rally, the district will need to go over its budget with a fine-tooth comb and make decisions, sometimes difficult, that save money. Fortunately, our district’s finances may not be rosy, but they certainly could be worse. One of the reasons state funding is lower is that student enrollment is down in the district. The reality is that, because of our high-dependence on property taxes, state funds only cover a small part of the cost of educating each student. Long term, the lower enrollment may actually save the district money after we adjust the number of new hire we make as tenured faculty retire.

As the spectrum of special needs grows, what can the school district do to keep up with the ever-changing and demanding needs of special needs students, especially those with autism?

The district needs to stay on the cutting edge when it comes to training staff that work with special needs students. Students with special needs, including autism, almost always require more individualized attention and effort on the part of teachers. We need to acknowledge that and determine class size accordingly.  Too often, students of varying needs are lumped together, when they should be treated as individuals and provided instruction that suits their unique circumstance. Some students may have unique needs but do not need to be a part of a special program. We need to make sure that all of our staff have the resources to engage these students and maximize their education potential.

Were the artificial turf fields installed at District 230 schools last summer a necessary expense?

While I have some concerns about the timing of the installation given the district’s emerging financial troubles, I do believe that, while not strictly necessary, the decision to switch our fields to artificial turf was indeed a wise one that will save our district some money long term and will improve our student experience. Before the installation of the turf fields, not only were our schools hesitant to let student groups such as marching band practice on the fields, but there was a large and frequent expense involved in regularly re-sodding them. While school board decisions should not be about keeping up with the Joneses, there are good reasons that almost all of our neighboring districts have adopted artificial turf fields.

Do you believe the State of Illinois should consolidate school districts to save money? Is District 230 the right size for such a measure?

I believe that the more local a school district, the more responsive and accountable it is to its community. Although some one-school districts may benefit from consolidation, I do not believe any effort to consolidate should be driven at the state level, and I do not believe district 230 should be considered.

Do teachers' unions help or hurt school finances and the education students receive? What does it take to reach an agreement that is acceptable to the unions while reasonable for the district’s finances?

I believe it is important and essential that we value our teachers and that we make sure that great teachers are attracted to our district and that they want to stay here.  It is teachers that put most board policies into practice, and it is teachers, along with parents and community members, that provide some of the best insight into where our district can improve. Because teachers are so essential to successful policy implementation we need to include them at the table and give them a chance to voice their policy recommendations.

Although I certainly respect our teachers and their right to unionize, the board is elected to serve the entire community, and not just the interests of one specific part of that community. I am not running on a three-person ticket, and I have not received funds from any interest group because I believe board members should be independent thinkers and independent voters. When elected to the board, I will be sure to act independently in the interest of the entire community: students, parents, residents and teachers.

Is there concern that asking for a lowered 1-percent levy increase instead of the 3.2-percent increase the district was eligible before will hurt district down the road? Since a district can only ask for what it got the year before plus a certain amount, are you worried about future levies being based on a figure $2 million lower than it could have been in a move that saved the average homeowner about $30?

It is ironic that raising taxes by one percent is being framed as “saving the average homeowner about thirty dollars”. I do not believe that in a difficult economy, with many families struggling to stay afloat, that any elected official should be raising taxes without first looking at where extravagant costs can be eliminated. One voter told me she was outraged that she was being asked to pay more taxes (and it’s likely that fees will be raised as well) while the district is still discussing taking on new projects. Her suggestion was to temporarily suspend fireworks at homecoming games to help save money until the economy recovered. I would have to look into that specific suggestion more, but at least someone is thinking about where some money can be saved without raising taxes and without hurting the education of our young people.