Chris Trzeciak, Homer D33C Board Of Education Candidate

HOMER GLEN, IL — Chris Trzeciak is a candidate for District 33C Board of Education. There are six candidates running for three open positions in the race.

The consolidated election is April 4.

Trzeciak's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire can be found below:

Your name

Chris Trzeciak

Age (as of election day):

36

Town/city of residence:

Homer Glen

School district:

Homer CCSD 33C

Family:

Wife: Nicole and Daughters: Hannah (7) and Kailey (5).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My father is retired and works as a part-time substitute teacher at District 33C. My wife is a teacher in a different district.

Education:

Master of Science, Threat & Response Management (MScTRM) University of Chicago | Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Saint Xavier University

Occupation:

Public and private sector financial services risk management, 15 years.

Campaign website or Facebook:

https://www.ctfor33.com/

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Board of Education Member
Homer Community Consolidated SD #33C (April 2019 - Present)

Board of Education Member (Past Board President and Board Secretary)
Evergreen Park High SD #231 (May 2007 - May 2015)

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

Space, class size, and overcrowding are among the top headwinds we are facing. 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.

Student achievement is also a key issue. Our district has shown some promising gains in our recent IAR data. All the schools in our district have received designations of either “commendable” or “exemplary”. While this is exciting news, student achievement remains my top priority. I believe in the strategic plan that the district created and the many activities we have already undertaken as we work through that plan. I will continue to support those activities while pressing the district to closely examine the efficacy of all new and existing student achievement programs.

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

I strongly believe in and support the non-partisan election of school board members. Public education and school board elections should never be a place for partisan politics. I am not seeking nor accepting any endorsements from any political organizations. In addition, I am financing all aspects of my campaign individually and not seeking or accepting donations of any kind.

As a school board member, my focus will be on the interests of the students within our school district and making decisions that best serve their needs. I believe that an effective school board is composed of members who are free from political affiliations and can approach issues with an open mind and a student-centered perspective. I also believe that it is important to have a diverse group of people on the board, with different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills that can help to address the needs of all students, and not just a select few. I have a successful track record of nearly 12 years in volunteer public service as a school board member including elementary and high school board experience.

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

n/a - I am not sure this question is phrased appropriately. I think there are always opportunities to improve, and we all need to constantly be seeking out those opportunities.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I believe it is important for school boards to maintain local control of their community's schools because it allows for decision-making that is responsive to the unique needs and priorities of the community.

I am also an advocate for maximum transparency in all levels of government. I strongly believe that it is essential for our school board to operate as transparently as possible to ensure that all stakeholders - including students, parents, teachers, and community members - have access to accurate and timely information about the decision-making processes and actions of the board. Transparency promotes trust, accountability, and informed participation in the governance of public schools, and it also helps to ensure that the board is acting in the best interests of the students and the community.

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

Board work is teamwork and I have nearly 12 years of experience successfully serving two different school districts as a board member. During that time, I successfully led and participated in numerous positive and successful contract negotiations. I have overseen millions of dollars in public construction work and school facility enhancements. I have a strong background in business and financial services and successfully managed numerous multi-million-dollar public and private sector budgets. I have worked hard with the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) as a legislative advocate to stand up for the rights of communities to maintain local control of their schools and to fight against unfunded school mandates. I also have many years of experience as a people leader and am well-versed in many aspects of management.

Why should voters trust you?

I am an open book. I routinely respond directly to emails and phone calls from community members. I believe that community engagement is a key job of a school board member and I do all that I can to make myself approachable and available. I also state my positions and decisions clearly and openly. I do not take positions that are simply "popular" - I evaluate each situation individually and, on its merits, and am not afraid to stand up for issues that I believe in or that I know to be in the best interest of the students in my community.

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

1. Completion of the planned construction and school expansion work. 2. Maintaining a healthy and balanced budget that provides for long-term fiscal stability. 3. Continued enhancement in all areas of student achievement. 4. Improved service delivery for our children with special needs.

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

I believe that a stable and balanced budget is essential to support our local schools. District 33C provides an essential public service to a growing population of over 3,600 students spanning multiple communities. The district employs 250+ teachers, maintains 6 separate school buildings, and owns and operates its own transportation system. The district spends an average of $15k per student per year to provide the highest possible level of education and support.

With that said, as a board member I have supported the board's direction to the administration to continuously and aggressively seek out all avenues to reduce spending while simultaneously engaging in priority projects intended to directly benefit our students. Over the last 4 years, the district has maintained its taxing level to align directly with CPI. In addition, the district is seeking to complete multiple large-scale projects over the next 5 years and plans to do so without seeking a tax increase via referendum. I define fiscal responsibility as the thoughtful and cautious use of our public resources that both ensures our future stability and provides us with the investment needed to maintain the highest possible quality of education.

Board members are the stewards of the public tax money that supports the school. We have the highest obligation to spend that money responsibly to ensure that the student's needs are fully met.

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

COVID was a terrible time in recent history. I can state unequivocally that it was one of the most challenging issues I have ever had to deal with as an individual and as an elected official. I said from the beginning, and I will say again, my greatest preference would have been and still is to let individuals and families decide for themselves how best to protect themselves. It is easy to talk about in hindsight and easy to cast judgment, but the bottom line is not one person wanted to put a single child or staff member in danger. The issue became unfortunately politicized and in reality, the primary issue with the COVID response dealt with orders from the state – not with local school boards. In reflection, I am sure that there were things that could have been done better, but that is true of many things. I hope that our community has learned the importance of working together as that is the best hope we all have to successfully navigate whatever future challenges we find ourselves faced with.

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 completely support the 1st amendment and value the voices of everyone in the community. Every person has a right to have their voice heard and to be part of the school community. I am open to opening whatever additional lines of communication the people of this community feel would best serve us. I think the most important lesson for us all to consider is that our children are watching and learning from us. The best example we can set as adults is for us to demonstrate respect and truly listen to each other so we can work together to solve our problems.

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

In elementary school, I firmly believe that sex education should be limited to human health and anatomy. Most importantly, the material must be age appropriate. I believe it is my responsibility as a parent to have the appropriate conversations with my children at the appropriate times in their lives and I as a parent should reserve the right to determine what I want to talk to them about and when I want to do it. Additionally, parents should have an unabridged right to be informed about what the school is teaching their children and retain the right to opt their child out of certain content if they feel compelled to do so. Whether we are ready for it or not, the fact is that our children have questions, and they need to be informed and educated about themselves and their bodies. If we fail to educate our children about these important matters, they will seek the information out on their own. I as a parent would prefer to be the source of that information so that I may also impart my values and beliefs to them as part of that conversation.

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

Critical race theory is not taught in our district. I do not believe this subject or content would be age appropriate for the mental maturity of elementary school children to explore.

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

Yes, however I think is always room for improvement. For example, this year we are hosting our first multi-cultural/heritage event at our middle school. I think more events like this would be a great way for students to learn more about different cultures in a very positive way.

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?

In general, the schools all perform very well when measured by state tests and state standards. There are many programs that we are evaluating to help determine the best ways to continue to build on our success. The most impactful thing that affects student academic growth is the individual teacher in the classroom. This is precisely why we should continue to invest in hiring subject-specific interventionalists. Interventionalists provide an immediate and direct avenue for us to target struggling students. In addition, we have been building an instructional coaching program that has already shown a lot of positive results. Instructional coaching provides a means for teachers to work directly with other teachers to focus on enhancing things like lesson plans, content delivery, differentiation, and student engagement.

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:

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.