Brian Bresnahan, Elmhurst D205 Candidate

ELMHURST, IL – Brian Bresnahan is one of five candidates for three seats on the Elmhurst School District 205 board.

Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Editor's note: The views expressed in the responses are the candidate's and are unedited by Patch.

Name:

Brian Bresnahan

Town of residence:

Elmhurst

Age:

49

Campaign contact email:

brianmbres@gmail.com

Family:

My wife, who is also in education, and I have 4 children who went through or are attending Hawthorne, Sandburg, and York.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife is in public education.

Education:

Northwestern University- BS in Secondary Education
Northeastern Illinois University- Masters in Educational Leadership
Concordia University Chicago- Chief School Business Official Endorsement

Occupation:

Business & Operations Coordinator for a local school district

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Local School Council teacher representative
(Belding School, Chicago, IL)

The single most pressing issue facing the school board is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The school board addresses urgent matters on a regular basis. One of the most important topics for district 205 right now is to balance Elmhurst’s high standards of educational growth with responsible financial management. The district must continue to create innovative pathways to success for all students and provide diverse learning opportunities, but do so within our financial means. By enhancing transparency, improving oversight, and prioritizing fiscal responsibility, the district can restore trust in its financial management and strengthen their partnership with the Elmhurst community.

As a candidate for the school board with experience working as a business coordinator in a school district, I plan to enhance the quality of education while ensuring financial integrity, identify cost-saving opportunities, and promote accountability. With the current uncertainty that surrounds public educational funding, it is important to have an experienced and educated board that can navigate the delicate balance of ensuring excellent academic opportunities while managing the community’s finances responsibly.

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

A unique combination of being inside the classroom as a teacher, co-running a high performing educational program, and experience working in the business department of a school district gives me a distinct perspective as a candidate for the D205 School Board. I not only have experience as a teacher, working with multiple curricula and developing my own, but also as an administrator with a masters degree in educational leadership co-running the Higher Achievement program at St. Ignatius, and now, finishing my CSBO classes, working in the business office of a school district. I have experience in running a classroom and understand the business aspect of running a school district. I realize what it takes to ensure the school board is a financial steward of the Elmhurst Community.

Aside from education and experience, I have dedicated my time and energy to serve the students and community in District 205. As chairperson of Foundation 205, I worked with an inspiring group of directors, raising funds that positively impact our students’ experience. I collaborated with the D205 administrators, teachers, and staff to raise funds for the Thiems Grants, the business incubator, and future-ready classrooms, and created standards of equity to use when distributing those funds throughout the district. I have put in the work as a PTA volunteer, coach, RE teacher, and cub scout leader, which has helped me build strong relationships with families and the community throughout District 205.

My passion for education, my unique experience, my dedication to the Elmhurst community, and my commitment to ensure that every student has access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed makes me ready to serve and support District 205 effectively as a
member of the school board.

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

Many of my accomplishments that qualify me to handle being a member of the D205 School Board have been cited in the previous answer. As much as this is a question of individual accomplishments, it is important to remember that each board member works with six others as well as an administrative team and the D205 community. Being part of the Local School Council, Cub Scout leadership team, one of many chairs on the PTA, a director on Foundation 205, co-teacher in the classroom, and all other groups I have been a part of has taught me the importance of collaboration. The reason the groups I have been a part of were successful is because we used data driven evidence to establish shared goals, we respected each other's views, no matter how different, and we were not only open minded to new perspectives, but sought them out knowing that disagreement can lead to stronger outcomes. To handle being part of the school board, my experience has been in seeking common ground, focusing on
evidence-based solutions, practicing self-reflection and humility, and exercising resilience in order to progress. I will continue to do that in order to achieve meaningful improvements that fully support our students and serve the best interests of our community.

The state has given its worst financial rating to the district; that rating remains in effect. Is this fair? What can be done about it?

The fact that District 205 received the state’s worst financial rating should raise some red flags and a call for transparency around this issue. This year’s rating and last year’s “early warning” status reflects some serious challenges that demand immediate attention, but it doesn’t define the potential of our schools or community. While the rating highlights fiscal concerns, it’s also an opportunity for the board to demonstrate leadership by making strategic, transparent, and data-driven decisions to improve our financial health.

In order to address this, we must prioritize a thorough review of the district’s budget to identify areas where we can be more efficient without compromising our high academic standards. It is important that the district practice transparency and engage the community in discussions about fiscal priorities to build trust and ensure our goals are aligned. We can also look into partnerships or finding alternative funding opportunities that could provide relief without burdening taxpayers. The district has stated that, although this designation won’t be lifted until the new ratings in the fall, they have been told by the state they will be back to the top rating of “financial recognition.”

To ensure we remain at that rating, we need to evaluate our long-term financial plan that balances the changing landscape of students’ needs and high academic
standards with the future sustainability of our district’s finances.

Are the district's property taxes too high, too low or just about right? Explain.

It is important for school districts to balance between providing high-quality education and maintaining fiscal responsibility. So determining the appropriate level of property taxes should not only be the dollar amount, but what you get in return for them. Looking at the 2023 Property Tax Comparisons in Dupage, District 205 ranks as the 27th lowest out 34, it would appear that Elmhurst has a lower tax rate than most neighboring districts. Property values have risen in recent years, with the average value of an Elmhurst home being about $500,000. This is great for property value, but the increase in value makes it difficult for some to pay the added amount of property taxes that come along with it. It is essential for District 205 to ensure that they are being fiscally responsible, finding funding opportunities and smart investments that guarantee we continue to keep our tax rate as low as possible while not compromising the quality of education and services provided to our students.

As a school board candidate, I believe in maintaining a tax rate that reflects our community's commitment to excellence in education while being mindful of taxpayers' concerns, ensuring that we provide a high quality education for all students without imposing unnecessary financial
burdens on our residents.

Do you support the district's increase in the number of employees even while enrollment is flat? Why or why not?

Similar to the tax question above, it is important to consider the reasoning behind the increase in staff and impact it has had, as well as whether or not the district can continue to financially support these increases. Most recently, staff increases have been due to implementing full-day kindergarten, supporting our students with special needs, and issues related to the pandemic.

Our current number of teachers and staff is right along the same lines of the state’s average. However, it is important to correlate new staffing levels with student outcomes. When we look at students with IEPs, we can see the impact these hiring practices have had on student outcomeswith almost 30% of students meeting and exceeding expectations in ELA, up from 18% pre-pandemic (up 26% from 21% in Math).

This does not mean that D205 can financially sustain hiring new staff at the level it has over the last decade when student enrollment is flat. We need to maintain a data-driven approach to staffing that aligns with our changing student demographics, state mandates, and educational needs of the district. Linking this data with a sustainable financial strategy, continuous staffing evaluations, along with community engagement and transparency is necessary for D205 to maintain the balance of high academic standards and financial stewardship.

This involves regularly assessing the effectiveness of current staffing levels, comparing them with peer districts, and ensuring that any increases are directly linked to improved student outcomes. It's also important to engage with the community to understand their expectations and to maintain transparency in how resources are allocated, providing high-quality education while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

What is your view of students' performance on standardized tests? What can be done to improve scores?

While standardized testing is not the best predictor of future success, it is a reporting standard that is used to judge the success of a community’s school and impacts the reasons families might move into an area. Standardized test scores do provide some valuable data about students' academic progress and can give the district information on what is working and what needs to be addressed, but standardized tests represent only one portion in evaluating student success.

Currently, we are looking at a tale of two grade levels. The scores in D205 elementary schools appear to be higher than pre-pandemic levels and outpacing many other surrounding districts, while SAT scores at York have not. This is an opportunity to evaluate reasons behind the declining scores, address those issues, and ensure all students have the support they need to succeed.

Last school year, my grade level partner and I greatly increased the 8th grade ELA test scores, so I know what it takes to build a strong academic foundation. Prioritizing reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, ensuring the curriculum is aligned to the state standards and prepares students to think critically and problem solve. We need to use data-driven instruction and best practices, identifying and providing interventions for students who need support. Collaborating with our highly qualified teachers and staff to provide professional development, but also listening to them about what is working and what isn’t. We should be partnering with parents and engaging them with updates on testing and resources in order to work together towards a common goal of student success. We can ensure every student has access to the proper technology, mental health support, and trusted staff in the schools that cheer them on while fostering a culture of high expectations. With this student-firstapproach, we can improve test scores, but more importantly, help students thrive and provide clear pathways to success for all students.

How can the district narrow the gap in performance between low- and high-income students?

Narrowing the achievement gap between low- and high-income students has been a historic struggle in education. This gives D205 an opportunity to address this challenge and make it a priority to make some gains.

As a board, we need to recognize the unique needs of its students and ensure the district provides equitable opportunities for success by having quality resources in every school starting with highly-qualified staff. We need to ensure that students with greater needs receive the support necessary to thrive, not just with interventions, but with innovative programs and pathways to success that meet the students where they are while having high expectations no matter where they start.

We know the importance of early intervention and how addressing student’s needs as soon as possible leads to long-term academic success. The board can provide targeted supports in the primary grades to start closing the gap before it begins to widen. This also means we need to knock down any barriers outside the classroom that disproportionately impact our higher needs students by creating more after-school programs, expanding outreach efforts, parent partnerships and partnerships with community organizations to support our students and families.

We can also work with the district to continue its data-driven approach to identify specific gaps and measure progress, allocating funds and resources to make a significant impact in closing this gap.

How is the district doing in getting good and bad news to the community?

Communication seems to be an area that most organizations can continually improve. District 205 has improved in their communication and transparency, but there is still room for improvement. Communication, whether for good or bad news, and transparency helps build trust and engages the community in two-way discussions. The district has done very well in some areas like highlighting student achievements, athletic and extracurricular successes, but can improve their strategies to keep the community informed on all levels impacting the district.

Districts, like people, are not perfect, and addressing short-comings or challenges in a transparent and timely way allows the district to engage with the community to problem solve together. Proactively communicating on tough issues like budget constraints, safety concerns, or other difficult topics give all stakeholders an accessible opportunity to work with the district and ensure all voices are heard.

As I have stated, disagreements can lead to stronger outcomes. By establishing a safe, respectful culture that allows for two-way communication we can strengthen engagement, transparency, and trust that can lead to stronger partnerships and a stronger district.

How do you view the district's handling of the situation around its former facilities director, Todd Schmidt?

The situation with the former facilities director was unfortunate on many levels. In regards to the district, it ultimately highlights the need for stronger financial oversight throughout the D205.

Unfortunately, the response was reactive rather than proactive, where safeguards either should have been in place or should have been followed in order to prevent this getting as far as it did.

While I’m relieved all funds were recovered, this demonstrates how important it is to have several levels of oversight, along with regular audits, and accountability measures.

As a business and operations coordinator in a neighboring district, I, myself, serve as one of those layers of financial oversight. This experience has given me an understanding of proactive planning and the importance of protecting a school district’s financial integrity. If elected, I will be committed to making sure the D205 has high standards of financial responsibility in place.

The district has declined to say who authorized Mr. Schmidt's personal spending on the district's credit card. Should the district reveal this information? Why or why not?

Transparency and accountability are essential in maintaining our community’s trust in D205. Without being part of the discussions that occurred, it is difficult to speak on the findings of the investigations. However, I reiterate what I stated in the last question, that this situation highlights the need for a reevaluation of our financial oversight, making sure we have the proper safeguards and accountability measures in place so that this does not happen in the future. I expect that the district has identified where those safeguards went wrong and are immediately strengthening them to ensure our tax dollars are preserved. I also expect the current and future boards, myself included, to advocate for secure internal controls and defined protocols to protect this or other similar situations from happening again.

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

Currently, there are no other reasons than health and family that would prevent me from serving a full term as a member of the School Board.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a proud parent of four children who have benefited greatly from the schools in District 205.

I am very grateful to the exceptional staff who have made such a positive impact on each of them. I am also proud to live in a community that places such a high value on education. It is the main reason most families move into or stay in Elmhurst. I want to use my passion for education and my unique experience to give back to the D205 community. My great-aunt always said that you should leave a place better than how you found it. Although the district is in pretty good shape, as my own children age out of the schools in 5 short years, I hope to do just that- leave District 205 in better shape than I found it, and I believe I can do that if voted in as a member of the school board. Thank you.