Tom Chavez, District 205 Board Candidate

ELMHURST, IL — Tom Chavez is one of nine candidates for four seats on the Elmhurst School District 205 board. Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Tom Chavez

Town of residence:

Elmhurst

Age:

58

Campaign contact email:

tom@tomchavez4D205.com

Campaign website:

www.tomchave4D205.com

Family:

Married for 30-years to Sue Chavez. We have 3 children, Olivia (22), Marissa (20) and Andrew (17).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

BA DePaul University

Occupation:

Commodity broker/risk analyst

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None

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

The single most pressing issue facing the school board is low academic proficiency and students not being adequately prepared for college or a career, and this is what I intend to do about it.

My family has lived in Elmhurst for 17 years, and our experience in Elmhurst Public Schools has been overwhelmingly positive. Throughout the years we have wholeheartedly and enthusiastically supported our teachers and our schools. We have deep appreciation and gratitude for the many teachers, school counselors and coaches who have been instrumental in preparing our children for success.

As parents, we have had the opportunity to follow our children’s K-12 journey through D205, and carefully observe how the academic learning platform has changed.

In recent years, merit and rigor have been supplanted by a new educational mindset that has jettisoned curriculum that has worked for decades in favor of producing equal outcomes. The data shows that academic results are not good. The data also shows this downward trend in academic proficiency began before the pandemic and continues.

According to the 2022 Illinois Report Card, only 45% of District 205 8th graders can do math at grade level, and only about 50% of York 11th graders meet or exceed standards in math and English.

Why does this matter and what are the consequences for our students who are falling far behind academically?

According to ACT:

• Students at high-performing schools who have fallen far behind academically in 4th and 8th grade have less than a 1 in 3 chance of being ready for college or a career by the end of high school.
• Only 10 percent of students, who were far behind their peers in college-and career-readiness benchmarks in reading in 8th grade, were able to meet readiness benchmarks in 12th grade.
• For students who performed more than a standard deviation below their peers in 8th grade, 32 percent caught up in reading, 21 percent caught up in science, and 17 percent caught up in math by 12th grade.

What does this mean for Elmhurst?

According to the research, many kids in our community will never catch up academically.

The District’s Long-Term Strategic Plan claims “student success” is their goal and they are on track to achieve it. But the studies show there’s a very low probability that many children in our community will be college or career ready by the time they graduate. Elmhurst Public Schools, once considered top tier, are no longer producing academic excellence.

I am motivated by the challenge of restoring academic excellence to District 205 by prioritizing academic achievement, and giving teachers the tools, policies, and resources, they need to better help our students.

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

People paying close attention know that public education systems across the United States are failing a generation of children. For example, in the state of Illinois, only 30% of students are able to read at grade level, and only 25% are proficient in math. This is a cultural crisis that is impacting historically top tier school districts, even Elmhurst D205. Many parents moved from Chicago to Elmhurst for, among other reasons, a quality education for their children. The data shows District 205 is no longer delivering good results and hasn’t been for several years.

What differentiates me from other candidates seeking this post is my very public and transparent track record of advocating for improvement in academic outcomes. Commitment means action, not just words and rhetoric. For the past 18 months, I have demonstrated my commitment to learning about the mission critical issues that impact our students. I have spent countless hours collaborating with a team of concerned parents to identify problems, understand potential solutions, and advocate for parents and their children. I have organized meetings and educational symposiums and invited any interested parent in our community to participate. I have been willing to say things that are truthful, but unpopular, to raise awareness in the community about low academic proficiency and curriculum issues.

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

I have worked for 30+ years in a competitive, results driven industry. I constantly review and analyze data, then work collaboratively with my clients to provide trading/risk management ideas and business solutions. I have owned and operated an advisory business for more than a decade. Most of all, I am dedicated to my craft and to the things that I am passionate about, including improvement in our community schools.

What can the school do to counteract dropping standardized test scores?

In a January 2022 email to parents, the York High School principal boasted about a 5-year high in the passing rate, while at the same time telling parents that comprehensive final exams were eliminated. Students are also allowed to “re-learn” or re-take tests, and most students have little to no homework. Removing accountability and rigor is not helping our students learn or preparing them for success. These are policy decisions made by the administration that take valuable learning tools away from teachers who are expected to produce strong academic results. Reinstating these traditional teaching tools would be a step in the right direction for improving standardized test scores. I’ve also given public comment at board meetings, and discussed strategies to expedite learning recovery, including prioritizing limited instructional time on the lessons and skills that matter most, and crowdsourcing in-person and virtual tutor volunteers to help the kids who are furthest behind.

Do you generally support the work of the school district's administration? Why or why not?

The district has struggled to be transparent, and accurately report academic performance to parents and stakeholders. According to the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) the administration (and the board of education) is obligated to do so. By all measures, we have a crisis in our schools, but the district has shown little urgency to address the situation. Therefore, I do not generally support the current administration.

Do you support the district's recent decision to raise the property tax levy by 5 percent, the maximum allowed under state law?

I do not support the decision. The only current board member with an extensive background in finance, Jim Collins, was a “NO” vote on the tax levy. The two incumbents voted yes, but did not demonstrate to constituents they did the homework to understand why. The decision to raise taxes by the maximum amount was unpopular, so now the board is positioning to abate a portion of the tax increase.

I took the time to review CPI data and compare district spending, both with and without the capital spending component, to the 10-year trend in inflation. The data shows District 205 spending has been consistently outpacing CPI inflation for a decade. This means that when CPI was at 1.5%-2%, district spending was above it. My analysis also shows that if the board of education continues to tax in the manner it has over the past 15-years, without an abatement, Elmhurst residents should anticipate a 17.1% tax increase in 3-years. That’s significant.

School performance and taxes are closely tied to real estate values. Low performing schools with high real estate taxes (if this trend continues) do not bode well for property values in Elmhurst. Only about 30% of Elmhurst residents have children in the school district, the rest pay property taxes, of which 73% goes to D205. Furthermore, enrollment growth was another reason the district gave for the referendum, but enrollment, according to IRC data, has dropped about 4%. There’s $47 million in excess funds, or about 1/3 of the annual Ed budget, that the administration should tap first, before asking taxpayers for yet another tax increase.

I will always advocate for ensuring our schools are well resourced and well-funded. As a board member, I will also ensure that those funds are used respectfully, resourcefully, and transparently.

What is your view of critical race theory? Is it being taught in local schools? If so, what evidence do you have of that?

First, what is Critical Race Theory (CRT)? It’s a nebulous term, and many people have difficulty defining exactly what it is.

Here’s a definition: Critical race theory is an academic discipline that holds that the United States is a nation founded on white supremacy and oppression, and that these forces are still at the root of our society. Critical race theorists believe that American institutions such as the U.S. Constitution and the legal system preach freedom and equality but are mere “camouflages” for naked racial domination. They believe that racism is a constant, universal condition that simply becomes more subtle, sophisticated, and insidious over the course of history. In simple terms, critical race theory reformulates the old Marxist dichotomy of oppressor and oppressed, replacing the class categories of bourgeoisie and proletariat with the identity categories of White and Black. But the basic conclusion is the same: in order to liberate man, society must be fundamentally transformed through moral, economic, and political revolution.

Now that I have provided a definition, let’s look at some of the things going on in District 205 schools. Parents can then decide if they believe CRT, or the “praxis” of CRT is being taught to their children. I have met with the current Board President, and members of the board, D205 Superintendent, York Principal, and administrators. I’ve asked directly and pointedly if CRT or the “praxis” of CRT is being taught to children in D205. The answer from all was an emphatic, NO.

On December 9, 2021 the Elmhurst Patch posted a story, “Is This Critical Race Theory at York High? The article contains a photo of a wall mural inside an English classroom at York titled Intersectional Identity. For any parent who is curious or concerned, you can search the term “intersectionality” on Google, and you will find that it is considered one of the 5 Core Tenets of Critical Race Theory.

The basic idea behind Intersectionality is to direct students to categorize themselves as either marginalized or privileged, oppressor or oppressed. Once a student has “Identified” where they fit, they are instructed to conduct their learning through this ideological lens.

In June of 2021, the D205 Board of Education authorized the administration’s request to purchase a program called Corwin Deep Equity and Deep Equity YES. The cost of the program was $46,000, of which $20,000 was paid through a grant from the D205 Foundation.

Corwin is owned by SAGE Publishing Company. On their homepage, they present their Antiracism Statement, philosophy and their mission: “Corwin acknowledges the presence and persistence of structural racism in our education system and our society at large. Through our publications, professional learning services, and our own organizational practices, we strive to actively dismantle injustice.”

The core premise of the Deep Equity program is white people are “collectively bound and unavoidably complicit” in the arrangement of dominance that systemically favors (one) racial group over others and that, “student achievement is suppressed by white privilege.”

Included in the $46,000 cost is a module called Deep Equity YES, which stands for Youth Equity Stewardship. This program uses taxpayer money and D205 Foundation funds to recruit high school students into political activism. Is this a good use of education funds at a time when 50% of our students can’t read or do math at grade level? Is it appropriate for D205 to use your money for its own ideological causes under the guise of anti-racism?

I asked the district for permission to view the Corwin materials, but was denied. The excuse given was its “proprietary” information. The Elmhurst Patch FOIA request was also initially denied, but eventually the district caved in and provided the information. Transparent and appropriate behavior by the administration and the board? Do parents deserve to understand exactly what their children are learning in school? That’s for parents to decide.

As far as race and racism are concerned, I’m Mexican, and in the course of my life have experienced racism, especially when I was younger. We’ve lived in Elmhurst for 17 years, have a large network of friends, and have always felt welcome and included in our community. I have never taught my children that their skin color matters more than their character. We have taught them to work hard, be respectful, kind, and to treat others as they wish to be treated. I am against racism and will always stand in the corner with anyone who is being discriminated against.

What is your view of sex education in local schools? Should an LGBT component be included? Why or why not?

I believe foundational sex education is an important and necessary part of a student’s education. It’s an extremely delicate subject matter, and one in which there are wide perspectives on how and when it should be taught, and what’s appropriate for different age groups. Parents should be able to provide their family perspective, and support their child’s level of comfort in discussing sexuality-related issues. Sex education curriculum in District 205 should be deployed openly and transparently, so that all parents can review it. Parents should also be able to opt their child out.

As children grow and mature, they discover several things about themselves, including sexual orientation. District 205 should foster an inclusive environment that supports all students, regardless of sexual orientation or how they identify.

Will you take questions from the media if you are elected?

Yes.

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

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Learning is lifelong.

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

I love to solve problems, and I enjoy meeting new people and good conversations. I am an engaged parent and have enjoyed every minute of raising my kids in Elmhurst. We are almost empty nesters, and I want new families, with young children to experience the Elmhurst community the way that my family has. I want voters to know that if elected, I will commit to doing the hard work required to understand the issues and always advocate for parents and their children. I will also commit to communicating clearly, concisely, and transparently with parents and stakeholders about important district issues. I will hold myself accountable to produce strong academic results.