Is District 205 Open With the Public And Teachers?

ELMHURST, IL — The six candidates for the Elmhurst School District 205 board were asked in a candidate forum over the weekend about how they would improve communications and transparency with the public and staff.

Like many districts, the school board's meetings are on video and documents for meetings are made available online. As required by law, the board makes time for public comment during meetings. Members have received an earful of criticism lately as parents push for a further reopening of schools.

Many residents have complained that the district has kept its planning for the resumption of in-person learning under wraps. In January, Superintendent Dave Moyer announced the board would vote early the next month on his administration's plan for the return of in-person instruction for the rest of the school year. The district decided to keep that document secret until the meeting, where the board voted on it. However, Moyer gave a few hints about the plan in the weeks leading up to the meeting.

In the April 6 election, the District 205 candidates are board President Kara Caforio and member Jim Collins and challengers Athena Arvanitis, Marie Gall, Laurel Schrementi and Gordon Snyder. They are vying for three seats on the seven-member board. The board is now searching for a superintendent to replace Dave Moyer, who is taking a superintendent's job in New York.

On Sunday, the candidates took part in an hour-long forum organized by the League of Women Voters. Here are their responses to the question on transparency:

• Caforio: "There have definitely been challenges with communication in the last year," she said. "Internally, there have been some challenges with communication. It is important that our staff feel they understand what's going on as well. I believe a new leader will begin some new mechanisms for communication and building trust moving forward."
• Collins: "We have worked hard for open and honest communication, but we can always do better," he said. "I'm open to any suggestion for us to do a better job. I think new leadership will have suggestions and will open to a two-way dialogue with our community."
• Snyder: "The current board has done a good job of actually communicating with the community as far as all the meetings are videotaped, the (board documents) that are online. There is a wealth of information that's available. You have to be able to know where to find it. It's there. It's not hidden."
• Arvanitis: "We can pinpoint some opportunities where communications and transparency can be improved... We will need to remain professional and respectful and work toward a place of understanding. We're not looking for agreement all the time."
• Schrementi: "I have heard from a number of teachers that as changes have come about related to remote learning, hybrid learning and the move to in-person, they often learn about the changes at the same exact time as the parents or maybe just a little bit before. Parents come to them with questions, and they can't answer them. They don't have the background. That kind of communication can be strengthened. How can teachers become allies of the administration and the board in communication about these changes?"
• Gall: "I was hesitant to run for the school board because I am very expressive, and I am very responsive. So if people are speaking to me, I might smile, or I might be animated... I realize the board was quite stoic during different presentations. They didn't really respond. I felt like there needed to be some acknowledgement of a person's comments and support for their engagement and involvement and some sort of compassion for what they're feeling, even if a board member hasn't," she said. "I do feel like the board should be made up of people who can smile, talk, share their personality and experiences."