Melisa Andrews: Candidate For Arlington Heights SD 25

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Arlington Heights Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Eight candidates are vying for four seats on the Arlington Heights School District 25 Board of Education on Election Day. They include three incumbents (Gina Faso, Richard Olejniczak and Anisha Patel) and five challengers (Melisa Andrews, Katie Rausch, Gregory Scapillato, Deborah Tranter and Todd Witherow).

Arlington Heights Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Melisa Andrews

Age (as of election day)

35

Town/city of residence

Arlington Heights

School district

25

Family

My husband Robert, and our three children aged 3, 7, 10

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Education

High School, Some College

Occupation

Stay at home mom

Campaign website

https://www.andrewsforsd25.com...

Previous or current elected or appointed office

Patton PTA- 3rd VP Co Chair- Programs; Interim Board President and Treasurer-Bethany Preschool

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The biggest issue that faces our school boards today is the response to COVID-19. I believe that the current school board for District 25 has not adequately taken into account the needs of students and staff. I am running for office to restore integrity and trust to the school board which has been lost during the pandemic.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

First, I am a candidate that has children who are actively going to a District 25 school. Second, I am a stay-at-home mother; I feel that I would be able to have more time to research and focus on board topics. I am also connected with other community moms, which would allow me to continue to hear the community’s take on current issues.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

I believe that the school board failed at their response to the pandemic by failing to follow science. The board prioritized getting kids back into the classroom at the cost of the safety of students and staff. Recommendations from the CDC and metrics established by the District’s Transition Advisory Committee were ignored. I support the Superintendent’s right to make pandemic related decisions as a matter of good governance. The current Board’s actions have led to outbreaks now in both South and Thomas middle schools.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

As the parent of children requiring special education services, I will look forward to supporting efforts to maintain high quality services in an inclusive environment.

The Board’s job, even during the pandemic, is to balance the interests of students, teachers, parents and the community to provide the quality education in which Arlington Heights is famous for. In the coming years, doing so will require giving consideration to the changing demographics of the community. We will need to adjust to serving a more inclusive and diverse population. The change will require review of the curriculum and staffing, but also maintaining a balanced budget supporting such changes. As the community changes, proper utilization of the new state funding formula will be one revenue source that may be able to help such a transition.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

When my daughter was in preschool I was on the preschool Board. I was interim President and Treasurer. During my time I was expected to keep the preschool running after a drop in attendance and have a balanced budget by the end of the fiscal year. I was able to accomplish this goal.

Why should voters trust you?

I have always been transparent. Everything that I have said and have done during my campaign is how I will be as a board member. I stand for restoring trust, being transparent, listening to the community, working collaboratively with all board members, administration, and teachers.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

I would work towards accomplishing bringing trust back to the board. I will also work collaboratively with every board member, teachers, administration and the community. It is also of utmost importance to keep our district one of the greatest districts.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

One of the key responsibilities of a Board member is to understand and transparently manage the use of taxpayer funds to benefit our children. My background in accountancy will help me evaluate the District’s budget and financial needs which assure that. In this capacity, I will favor natural revenue growth through the growing value of Arlington Heights property as opposed to changing the property tax rate for the District.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I recognize the history of our county’s marginalizing of Black and Brown members of our communities and devaluing their contribution to our country. And I believe that now is the time to correct this injustice. This, I believe, conforms with the core beliefs of the Black Lives Matter movement. As such, I will support the efforts of the District to provide curriculum and programming which build diversity, equity and inclusion into our District.
I do believe in peaceful protest and do not agree with the violent protests that happened after all the shootings.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I support the efforts of the District to provide curriculum and programming which build diversity, equity and inclusion into our District.

What are your thoughts on the district’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic? Are you in favor of remote learning, in-person learning or a hybrid of the two? Do you support a mask mandate for students and school staff, or mandatory coronavirus testing for both students and staff

I would be in favor of hybrid as it makes it easier to follow the mitigations that were set forth on November 12th by the board. I believe that masks work. I have seen it first hand, in my personal life. I absolutely support a mask mandate for teachers and staff especially since the social distance mitigation isn’t always being followed. As for testing, I believe that if you show symptoms you should absolutely get tested; it helps protect the community.

When the vaccine is available to them, do you support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students and staff?

As with other vaccines, I believe that the issue of mandatory Covid vaccination should be handled at the state level.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

I do not foresee any reason why I should not be able to serve a full term as Board of Education Member.

The best advice ever shared with me was ____________

You will make mistakes but you will always learn from them and grow stronger.