Progressives Vs. Conservatives In Elmhurst D205: 2023 Election

ELMHURST, IL – During the pandemic, Elmhurst school board meetings became battlegrounds over issues such as school shutdowns, masks and critical race theory.

Public comments at times became heated. At one meeting, the board recessed for about five minutes when mask mandate backers shouted down a public commenter who refused to wear one.

After the end of COVID-19 restrictions and mask mandates, such issues have faded away in Elmhurst School District 205.

But the battle lines remain. Tuesday's election is a demonstration of that.

Nine candidates are vying for four seats on the school board.

The hopefuls have no official alliances. But local progressives are backing incumbents Beth Hosler and Courtenae Trautmann and newcomers Kelly Asseff and Kelly Henry.

The most conservative candidate is seen as Tom Chavez, who has been speaking at board meetings for the last couple of years.

His supporters are also favoring Lan Li, Linda Nudera and Jammie Esker Schaer.

The candidate who appears not to be allied with either faction is Ben Zulauf.

The mask debate was particularly contentious during public comments at meetings, even more so than school shutdowns.

Before the 2021-22 school year, Superintendent Keisha Campbell announced a mask-optional policy, which the board approved. Then Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided that all schools must mandate masks.

Many criticized the local district for following the governor's order. But Pritzker was not to be trifled with.

Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst found that out the hard way. Its principal announced the school would stay mask optional despite the governor's order.

The state then threatened to remove the private school's recognized status, meaning it would be unable to take part in Illinois High School Association sports. The school backed down.

In the earlier debate over school shutdowns, the board gave the previous superintendent, Dave Moyer, much authority.

But some board members expressed qualms over the reduction of in-person learning. Perhaps the most critical was Jim Collins. Trautmann was right up there.

In February 2021, Trautmann was one of two board members who voted down Moyer's plan to return to school. She said she wanted to move faster.

A month later, Trautmann lamented the school's handling of in-person learning.

"I'm frustrated that as things are becoming less strict in the guidelines, we are becoming more strict," she said.

Later in 2021, critical race theory became a big topic in public comments at school board meetings around the country.

In Elmhurst, Chavez became the most high-profile spokesman for the belief that the theory was being taught in local classrooms.

Critical race theory is a decades-old legal and academic framework that looks at and critiques how race and racism shaped the U.S. laws and institutions that remain in place today.

The phrase has become a catchall for various claims about racism and race relations in the United States, having nothing to do with critical race theory itself.

Chavez never pointed to any specific examples of the theory in lessons, but he referred to equity efforts in general and a display titled "intersectionality."

He formed the group Elmhurst Parents for Integrity in Education, which became a draw for local conservatives. He argued local children were the subject of Marxist indoctrination.

During his current campaign, Chavez rarely refers to such issues. He is now focused on falling test scores and the school board's decision to raise property taxes to the maximum under state law.

Both his supporters and opponents are interested in what Chavez has to say, as shown by the number of comments on Patch stories about him. He is never shy to respond to adversaries, saying he is simply telling the truth.

Recently, Chavez has been saying the school had $68 million in cash at the change of the budget year last summer. That, he said, bolsters the argument that the board could have avoided a 5 percent increase to the property tax levy.

In a recent story, Patch noted the $68 million was in the bank shortly after the district got half of its property tax money, the overwhelming source of its income.

However, the district says that its cash gets to a low of $40 million during the budget year, something Chavez doesn't mention when making his case.

In response to the story, Chavez wrote to Patch, "The blowback from your article from smart people should tell you that what you posted was hot garbage."

Whatever the case, the tax increase has become a big issue in the campaign. Five of the candidates disagree with the increase. Hosler and Trautmann voted for the hike, while Asseff and Henry did not question it during a recent forum.

Board member Collins was the only board member to vote against the hike, saying it was too much. Member Karen Stuefen was absent.

"I just want to remind everyone that a low tax rate is a good thing, and it's a long tradition in Elmhurst," Collins said before the vote. "I don't want to be part of a board that messes that up."

Here are the questionnaires from the candidates:

• Kelly Asseff
• Tom Chavez
• Kelly Henry
• Beth Hosler
• Lan Li
• Linda Nudera
• Jammie Esker Schaer
• Courtenae Trautmann
• Ben Zulauf