Who Elmhurst Teachers Union Endorses

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst teachers union has endorsed four candidates for the local school board in Tuesday's election.

The candidates are Elmhurst School District 205 board incumbents Courtenae Trautmann and Beth Hosler and newcomers Kelly Asseff and Kelly Henry.

"These candidates have the skills, experience, and dedication needed to pursue academic excellence while representing the interests of our Elmhurst students, families, and teachers," the Elmhurst Teachers Council said in a March 21 post on Facebook. "They have all consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to education, our community, and continuous improvement."

Patch left an emailed message with the endorsed candidates. Patch asked how they planned to handle negotiations with the teachers union with the endorsement in mind.

In an email to Patch on Monday, Hosler said she was "grateful" for the endorsement.

"I believe a strong, collaborative relationship is key to a positive outcome for all involved (in negotiations)," Hosler said. "During the collective bargaining process, the board’s role is to both support our employees and exercise fiscal responsibility. Negotiating a contract examines what is working or not working so well, what changes in a contract may help support the goals of the district, and what is fiscally responsible for both the present and the future."

The other candidates are Tom Chavez, Lan Li, Linda Nudera, Jammie Esker Schaer and Ben Zulauf. Four seats are up in the election.

In an email to Patch on Monday, Nudera noted District 205's "Belief Statements" under "Diversity": “In today’s global society, it is essential for school systems to embrace diversity, including ethnicity, ability level, and socioeconomic status, and implement initiatives to ensure the needs of all students are met.”

"Why is the Union pivoting from the district’s own Belief Statement and backing a slate of homogeneous candidates?" Nudera said. "It would make more sense for them to support a variety of candidates that represent the diversity of families within our district. The Union Board unilaterally made their endorsement without surveying the over 700 licensed professionals they represent."

Patch left a message with the union on its endorsement process.

In an email, Li said the endorsed candidates, if they win, would negotiate a new contract.

"Elmhurst voters should consider who will best represent the interests of students, parents, and regular residents of Elmhurst: members who are independent of any political party or union bosses, or members who are fully aligned with the union bosses and act as THEIR representatives rather than advocates for the students and citizens of Elmhurst," Li said.

In summer 2020, the union used its Facebook page to repeatedly criticize the district's reopening plan during the pandemic. It questioned why administrators held a virtual meeting when it wanted students and teachers to meet in person. Those posts have since been deleted.

The union later filed a grievance with a state labor board demanding the district hold off on in-person learning. It lost.

Email from Beth Hosler to Patch:

In regards to the endorsement from the Elmhurst teachers union and PSRP, it is not uncommon for unions to endorse specific candidates in their district's school board elections, and I am very grateful for their support.

To answer your question about negotiations, I was asked about collective bargaining early on in my campaign and my position now remains consistent with my answer then. I believe a strong, collaborative relationship is key to a positive outcome for all involved.

During the collective bargaining process, the board’s role is to both support our employees and exercise fiscal responsibility. Negotiating a contract examines what is working or not working so well, what changes in a contract may help support the goals of the district, and what is fiscally responsible for both the present and the future.

As we embark on the negotiating process, there is a significant piece that will always make the process more effective. That being, the relationship that’s built over time between the unions, administration, and board. For ultimate success, we should work together day to day to address any concerns and mutually solve problems that arise. By doing so, trust is built across the organization and makes collaboration and compromise much more effective when it comes time to negotiate or amend a contract.

In addition to that, ensuring the priorities and expectations are clear across the district, helps everyone work toward the same goals. Good sound collaboration and communication are key to making that possible. If elected, I will continue to work with our administration to enhance and increase opportunities for collaboration across the organization. Continual feedback from our staff is vital as we work through the components of the strategic plan.