Lawrence Vacala, Homer D33C Board Of Education Candidate

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

The consolidated election is April 4.

Vacala's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire are below:

Your name:

Lawrence Vacala

Age (as of election day):

46

Town/city of residence:

Homer Glen

School district:

33c

Family:

Wife-Gaby, Sons-Joseph-11, Vincent-14

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Business Management

Occupation:

Police Lieutenant-23 years of experience

Campaign website or Facebook:

www.wetheparentsillinois.com

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Homer Township Precinct Committeeman #13

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

The most pressing issue facing the district as it stands 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.

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

I have not served on the board before, as an outsider it is beneficial to come in and have a fresh set of eyes to bring to the board. The incumbents have served on the board for numerous terms and have raised the tax levy to the max every year.

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

The school board needs to look for ways to cut costs. Raising the tax levy in order to meet spending goals is not the answer. Families and community alike have had to make cuts in order to meet financial goals, now is not the time to raise the tax levy when inflation and price of goods have skyrocketed.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Parents need to have more say in their children's education and the curriculum that is being proposed by the state. The sexual education standards are not appropriate for school children and should be left up to the parents. The schools also need to be more secure, and hold kids accountable for their actions

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

I am a 23-year law enforcement professional who has risen through the ranks to become a front line supervisor. I have worked in municipal government, understand union contracts and have worked on budgeting. I understand the public administration aspect of the school system, and above all else am a concerned parent.

Why should voters trust you?

See above answer

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

Saving taxpayers money and allowing our education system to get back to preparing our kids for the real world instead of teaching political ideologies.

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

There's too much spending. As anything else in the State of Illinois there is a spending problem that needs to be reigned in.

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

They did the best they could based on guidelines. The kids should've been allowed to remain in school without masks, children were not affected by covid, nor were dying from it.

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?

No changes need to be made, it was a heated topic and actually for once allowed the parents to display our dissatisfaction for the school boards. It also revealed how much power the schools boards yielded, the power should be returned to the parents.

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

At an appropriate age with the curriculum reviewed by the parents, if not approved parents should be able to opt out.

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

N/A

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

N/A

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?

Students are not being prepared well enough, Covid placed kids a year behind, and the schools have not recognized that. The classes have been dumbed down to make sure all kids pass.

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:

Always show up with a smile on your face, it is contagious