6 Candidates Vying For 3 Spots On District 33C Board Of Education: Election 2023

HOMER GLEN, IL — Voters who live within Homer District 33C boundaries will choose three candidates for the District's Board of Education. The consolidated election is Tuesday.

Candidates are:

• Elizabeth Hitzeman
• Christopher Trzeciak
• Debra Martin
• Lawrence Vacala
• Nicholas Kolliniatis
• David Ondyak

Martin, Hitzeman and Trzeciak are current board members. Martin serves as president of the board and was first elected in 2003. Hitzeman serves as vice president, and was first elected in 2015, according to the district website. Trzeciak was elected to the board in 2019.

Hitzeman said the most pressing issue facing the district is social/emotional and academic setbacks.

"The district monitors those academic gaps and sets goals for improvement. The district has provided summer school as an additional resource. The DESSA screener is a rating scale that identifies students who are struggling socially/emotionally. Additional support is provided to help struggling students. Finally, classroom space and growth is being presently addressed. Plans have been developed to connect Hadley and Homer Junior High," she said in her candidate questionnaire.

She cited the teacher shortage, local control, financial accountability, the strategic plan, and the Hadley/Homer Junior High expansion project as other key issues.

Trzeciak said the most pressing issue facing the district is space, class size and overcrowding.

"The community is continuing to grow and over the past few years, the growth has outpaced our ability to construct adequate additional space. It is my goal to keep class sizes as small as possible and to provide every teacher with a properly equipped classroom space. To accomplish this, the district is moving to a grade-level center model for the K-4 buildings beginning next school year. This will serve to alleviate some of the immediate space issues. This transition will allow the district to complete a much-needed expansion project at Homer Jr. High School and Hadley Middle School. I fully support this project as it will provide a significant amount of additional classroom space as well as several common spaces that can be shared between both schools. This will help position the district for the next 10+ years. I also support the board in its desire to complete this work using operating fund balances without the need to seek a referendum or issue additional debt," Trzeciak said in his candidate questionnaire.

He also cited student achievement, local control and transparency as other key issues.

Martin said the most pressing issue facing the district is overcrowding.

"As a district, the administration, and district leadership have worked towards a final plan. That plan will result in a grade center model beginning the 2023-2024 school year. Excellent communication, feedback, and input have been put in place for a smooth transition at all buildings. The grade center will benefit the district overcrowding, need for greater collaboration within grade levels, and consistency. There is also a need for added space at Hadley Middle School and Homer Junior High. The district has worked on plans for a campus connection in order to create an added flexible space that is necessary for our students and staff. This was a long undertaking with dedicated involvement from many stakeholders. I am committed to the grade centers and campus connection completion," she said in her candidate questionnaire.

She said other issues that define her campaign platform also include monitoring the implementation of the 2021-2025 strategic plan.

Vacala said the most pressing issue facing the District is "the overcrowding of our schools and the spending issues."

"The board has raised the tax levy again in the current fiscal year, instead of looking for options to make cuts. There has also been the issue of instituting the sex ed curriculum to kids as young as first grade, our district has done a decent job of navigating these mandates, but we as parents need to remain firm and not allow curriculum into our schools which we deem detrimental to our kids. We also have the ongoing issue of school security and how to make schools a safe and nurturing learning environment without scaring our children," he said in his candidate questionnaire.

Kolliniatis said the most pressing issue facing the Board is "medical choice for parents."

"I don't know what the future holds in regards to vaccination status for students, but I want to be on the board if that issue does arise. There are many universities that require both the covid vaccine and booster for entrance into their institution. Personally, I feel everyone has a right to their own opinions, and everyone has to make their own choice which should be between them and their doctor. I want parents to make all decisions in regards to doing whatever is best for their child when it comes to all medical decisions," he said in his candidate questionnaire.

He said other issues that define his campaign platform include declining test scores and academic performance, and teacher retention.

" I want to make sure we are giving the students and teachers all the support they need to get back to the academic success we had pre-COVID," he said.

Polls will open across Will County at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, and will close at 7 p.m. Election results will remain unofficial until April 25 when the Will County Clerk's Office finishes counting vote by mail ballots and provisional ballots.