Julie Moon: Candidate For Glenview School District 34

GLENVIEW, IL — Ahead of the April 4 consolidated municipal elections, Glenview Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Five candidates are vying for four seats on the Glenview Community Consolidated School District 34 Board of Education on Election Day. Current Vice President John Heggie, Secretary Michael Korman and Natalie Jachtorowycz are not running for reelection. The following candidates will be on the ballot:

• Scott Nelson, current president (term ends in 2023)
• Alex Kamilewicz
• Julie Moon
• Jennifer Patel
• Vasilios Soupos

The Glenview District 34 Caucus is endorsing the campaigns of Nelson, Kamilewicz, Moon and Soupos.

Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Julie Moon

Age (as of election day)

52

Town/city of residence

Glenview

School district

Glenview Community Consolidated School District 34

Family

Husband, David (age 52) is an attorney | Son, Tyler (age 14) is an 8th grader in D34

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Sociology at University of Iowa

Occupation

Marketing and Communications- 23 years | Educational foundation volunteer- 7 years

Campaign website

N/A

Previous or current elected or appointed office

None

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

a) Referendum projects: It is important to complete the referendum projects for equity across schools and to optimize learning, while keeping the budget in check with the rising construction costs. The school board needs to continue to think creatively to ensure all classrooms are updated while maintaining long term financial health.
b) Mental health challenges: I think the school boards needs to make sure mental health challenges are being addressed with respect to both the children and teachers. It is important to continue the weekly social and emotional learning that the district implemented as well as provide a safe and supportive environment to learn.
c) Learning losses: We need to continue to address any learning losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

I have supported District 34 for the past 7 years in various volunteer roles, including the executive board of the Glenview Education Foundation (GEF), an educational foundation that supports grants in all eight District 34 schools. I am already invested in the entire district and the well-being of the whole child. I have a strong desire to continue to serve the children and the community. I will listen to the concerns of all of the constituents so I understand how to best represent the entire community.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

I am not a challenger to the current board. I am running on a slate with one incumbent board member, Scott Nelson, as well as two people who have not run for the board in the past, Alex Kamilewicz and Vasilios Soupos.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I believe in the importance of strong public schools and want to ensure the district continues to provide the best education for all our kids. I also want to make sure that we are meeting the needs of all the students in our diverse student population. I welcome the opportunity to help set policy when the strategic plan is updated in 2024 to keep District 34 on the cutting edge of education.

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

For the past 5 years, I have been on a 9-person executive board for the Glenview Education Foundation. Similar to the school board, GEF’s executive board has an equal voice in the decisions. We collaborate and work together to reach a group decision. We then present the plan to the entire 33-member board for implementation. I would be comfortable working the same way on the school board. Everyone is given an equal voice, listening to each other’s opinions and then ultimately deciding the best policy together.

Why should voters trust you?

I have lived in the community for twelve years with my husband and son, and I understand the importance of strong public education. My son has attended school in District 34 for over 7 years. As a parent, I have seen how the primary, secondary and middle schools are run. During my five years on the Glenview Education Foundation executive board, I have had many interactions with the district administrators and teachers. I have learned much about District 34, which will ultimately help my transition onto the school board. I also have a unique understanding of some of the needs of the district through the numerous GEF grant requests we have received from the teachers and administration.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

To view my term as successful, I would like to see the following:
a) Completion of the approved referendum projects in all eight D34 schools
b) High rankings in all eight D34 schools
c) Recruit and retain excellent teachers, support staff and substitute teachers
d) Continued strong financial health ratings
e) Strategic plan approved and policy set for the administration to implement

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I welcome the opportunity to represent all constituents within the district by making the tough choices that continue to improve the schools, while also protecting the district’s financial health. I believe the current board has made smart choices with continuing some of the referendum projects, while holding off on some aspects of the work to avoid rising cost increases due to inflation. The school board approves a yearly budget and has been a strong steward of the finances resulting in Moody’s AAA rating, the highest rating possible, for the past several years.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

The ultimate goal is to safely keep the kids in school both for the ideal learning environment as well as to avoid mental health challenges. However, I believe the school board based its COVID-19 decisions on the safety risks for the kids, teachers, staff and their families. They also followed the guidelines from the CDC and the recommendations from the Illinois State Board of Education.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school boards saw extremely heated disagreements during public meetings. If elected, what changes, if any, need to be made to ensure meetings are run efficiently while still allowing open discussions?

I think using an interactive platform like Zoom allows for open communication. Continuing to notify parents of upcoming board meetings and allowing them to comment is also important. Publicizing the names of people who are commenting should also help to keep comments civil.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

The district already provides sex education to children beginning in 5th grade, and there is an opportunity for parents to opt out of this content. I believe this is the best way to handle this sensitive material.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district?

Critical race theory (CRT) is not currently taught in District 34. CRT is a topic that is being discussed across the nation, and I believe that CRT needs to be better understood by the administration, teachers and parents before any decision is made.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I believe the school board has done a good job supporting racial equality in our diverse school district. They have ensured that the schools are meeting the needs of all students regardless of income level, languages spoken or special needs. The schools are also implementing an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion plan to ensure that all students are getting what they need for optimal learning.

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?

District 34 does a great job providing opportunities and support for all academic levels as well as special needs. They offer different levels in both math and English providing challenges or extra support. The district also has a strong support system for students who are struggling with achievement. The English learner’s program is available for those who are not native English speakers. The student services department in the district starts as early as age 3 for special needs support.

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 ____________

When I was trying to decide whether to run for school board, my husband gave me some great advice that motivated me to pursue the opportunity. He said that with my knowledge of District 34, I could help make a real difference in the lives of the kids in our community.