Arlene Cabana, LTHS Board Candidate

LA GRANGE, IL – Arlene Cabana is one of five candidates for four seats on the Lyons Township High School board.

Here are her responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Arlene Cabana

Town of residence:

Burr Ridge

Age:

n/a

Campaign contact email:

anfarolan@gmail.com

Family:

3 children: a 7th grader, junior at LT and a sophomore in college that graduated from LT.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

J.D. Doctor of Jurisprudence

Occupation:

Litigation Attorney

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Former Pleasantdale School District 107 Board of Education, president.

The single most pressing issue facing the school board: is the need to keep the focus on students and helping them attain their full academic potential by providing them with adequate access to resources within the school system to support their social-emotional growth and mental well-being. What I intend to do to help the district achieve this is to ensure that the district continues to 1) provide students with adequate support and resources in and out of the classroom to facilitate their academic growth, 2) maintain high teacher retention rates, 3) ensure that adequate amounts of social workers and counselors are available and accessible to all students, 4) provide teachers with professional development on current proven teaching techniques to help students with diverse academic abilities and 5) provide teachers with the resources and support that they need to excel in teaching. Also, it’s important to ensure that teachers are utilizing data-driven instruction and assessments to identify trends and pinpoint students’ areas of weakness, and using this data to refine teaching strategies to assist students of different academic levels. Regular yearly classroom assessments should also be used to track student progress and ensure timely interventions. It is important to provide teachers with the support and resources they need to in turn fully support our students’ growth.

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

One of the main differences is that I have served as a school board member and president of that school board. This has given me in-depth knowledge on education and school issues, has taught me how to run meetings, prepare meeting agendas, oversee school budgets and finances to ensure fiscal responsibility, and to work well with administrative teams. I am also an attorney, so I have a good understanding of the law which has helped me as a school board member to understand some of the complex legal issues, legislation and school policies that often come before the board. My experience in these areas will allow me to get up to speed as an LT school board member quickly and to navigate school issues unique to LT effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, acting as LT PTC president has also allowed me to work closely with and get to know the superintendent, administration, staff and teachers well, and to build up good working relationships with them. I also chaired or co-chaired many of the PTC committees, including Trivia Night and Post-Prom Fundraising which entailed recruiting, organizing and overseeing chaperones for the Homecoming Dance and Post-Prom, and other duties. These duties not only allowed me to meet and get to know many parents in our community, but required a lot of my time and dedication and the ability to balance these various roles and duties.

I have and always will diligently put in the time, heart and dedication into any role I undertake, and work to build strong relationships with all stakeholders. I am a big component of listening to all stakeholders of various viewpoints, being respectful but honest about those differing viewpoints, and working collaboratively with the administration to ensure the district is always making decisions based on what is in our students’ best interests.

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

I was Pleasantdale school board president during much of the pandemic and simultaneously acted as the president of the LT PTC (the PTO for the high school). During my time as a board member and president, Pleasantdale D107 was able to stay in-person from the time our school reopened in August of 2020 all through the pandemic, while maintaining and ensuring students’ safety. The covid period was an unprecedented time with such diverse viewpoints. As a board member I learned to navigate those diverse opinions, to be readily available to listen to our parents, teachers and community members respectfully, and to do our best to collaborate with the administration in finding balanced solutions to address those various concerns. I truly believed in the importance of treating everyone with respect when they come to our board meetings, truly listening and always making sure to respectfully listen to the various stakeholders who came to air their concerns during covid. Our school did an incredible job managing different viewpoints and finding creative and balanced solutions to do what was in the best interest of our students, which was keeping them in-person, while ensuring their safety.

I am also proud that during my presidency, our school board was selected for recognition by the IASB. We were only one of 33 school boards selected, out of 850+ school boards state-wide, to receive such recognition. Our school board made sure to remain current on best practices and policies for school boards and work collaboratively with teachers, administration, parents and students to ensure our district and board’s success. In order to attain this, we kept current on best practices for school boards as recommended by the IASB and made sure to implement and utilize those best practices.

Additionally, during my term as president, our elementary school was awarded a National Blue Ribbon Award. This reflected the commitment of our board to working in collaboration with our superintendent and supporting our administration to ensure that our district continued to excel.
Our board also initiated a project to build an early childhood development center, which the current board continues to explore as a potential option.

How would you rate the performance of the current school board? Explain.

I think they have done some good things for LT, especially with initiatives that provide resources and support to students with diverse needs and backgrounds, however I don’t agree with the way they handled the LT land sale and lack of transparency surrounding that issue. The OMA has strict restrictions when it comes to closed session meetings to ensure the transparency of the board. This board, as reflected in the Attorney General’s decision, veered off topic during closed sessions to discuss issues that should have remained in open session and open to the public. It is important for school boards to have good legal counsel to direct them on such topics and to frequently confer with legal counsel to avoid actions that could have potential legal ramifications for the board or district. My experience as an attorney and prior school board president equips me with the knowledge and background to better understand and potentially spot these issues.

When it comes to the land sale issue, as Pleasantdale School Board president, I advocated against the sale of the land to industry since our elementary school shared a large common border with this land, and since my community disagreed with the board’s push for a sale to industry. But recently I believe this board has made good decisions regarding the potential sale
of this land which includes looking into selling the land to companies that would develop the land within zoning restrictions. Current zoning still allows for a variety of development options such as residential, light commercial, senior housing or a mix thereof and the potential for a large multi-million dollar profit. The LT board has also been more communicative with our stakeholders recently which our community has been appreciative of. It is my hope that the current and new board members continue on the same course. I would like to continue to help facilitate open communication between the LT board, administration and all of the stakeholders, including my home community of Pleasantdale.

Are the district's property taxes too high, too low or just about right? Explain.

I believe the district's taxes are just about right. With that said, as a board member and taxpayer, I would provide oversight and encourage the administration to continue to be vigilant in ensuring that each tax dollar is spent wisely and the district remains fiscally responsible. In addition, it is important for the district to continuously seek areas where money can be saved in order to support the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars. LT has one of the lowest tax rates of school districts in Cook County and secures the majority of its funding through local property taxes, as opposed to federal and state disbursements. The district levies taxes each year to support the district’s operations. For the aforementioned reasons, it is essential that LT capture as much of the available taxes as possible while keeping the tax rate as low as possible for taxpayers. School boards in tax-capped districts like LT can levy the lesser of 5% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus for new construction. LT continues to levy in a manner that supports the highest student growth, development, and achievement at a reasonable rate for our taxpayers, while remaining fiscally responsible.

What is your view of students' performance on standardized tests?

For LT, improving standardized test scores requires a strategic and collaborative approach across students, teachers, and the community. A key focus should be on data-driven instruction, using assessment results to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses and to refine teaching strategies accordingly. Regular yearly assessments can help track student progress and ensure timely interventions. LT currently uses the SAT for benchmarking a student’s academic performance, however since it is only taken once during the 11th grade it does not provide additional data points for comparison to measure a student’s academic growth year-over-year. LT does monitor students’ individual academic growth throughout the year within each grade level through individual course formative and summative assessments which provides critical information in providing students with more individualized assistance in areas where it is needed most, which should then translate into higher standardized test scores. The bottom line is that teachers are what make the biggest difference in improving standardized test scores. It is for this reason that high teacher retention, providing many opportunities for professional development for teachers, equipping them with the best practices for reinforcing content and individualized instruction to meet diverse learning needs and providing them with additional resources and support that they need is so very important.

Parental and community engagement also play a crucial role in student achievement. Providing families with resources to support learning at home and establishing partnerships with local organizations can further enhance educational opportunities. Also, teaching students effective test-taking strategies, including executive functioning skills such as time management, organizational techniques, and stress management, is important in building their confidence and ability to perform well on standardized tests.

By implementing these strategies, LT can foster a strong academic environment that supports student success and leads to higher standardized test scores.

How can the district narrow the gap in performance between low- and high-income students?

Narrowing the performance gap between low and high-income students in any district requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses both academic and non-academic barriers and impediments to success. Expanding access to high-quality early intervention programs, such as tutoring, after-school enrichment, and summer learning opportunities, can help level the playing field for students from lower-income backgrounds. Providing additional resources, such as free test prep courses, academic coaching, and access to technology, ensures that all students have the tools they need to perform well on standardized tests.

Investing in teacher training on best practices on instruction for diverse learners can help educators better support their students. Schools should also focus on providing support for social-emotional learning and mental health as well. Also, strengthening relationships between schools and families can create a support network that reinforces learning outside the classroom.
Allocating more resources to programs serving lower-income students can also make a difference. Encouraging participation in advanced coursework by reducing barriers to AP and dual-credit classes, offering additional academic counseling, and providing mentorship programs can also help to close achievement gaps.

By prioritizing these efforts, LT can create a more inclusive learning environment where all students, regardless of income or individual circumstances, have the opportunity to succeed.

The high school is looking at tens of millions in building projects. Is the board on the right track with its plan?

I think that the board is currently on the right track. With aging building structures, a large portion of these facility projects are in dire need. However, with that said, the plans should accurately reflect wants versus needs, and prioritize projects, for the most part,to reflect needs over wants. The current proposed projects should also be evaluated to prioritize those that are needed most over others. LT did engage in community outreach which identified areas that stakeholders believed facility improvements were most needed. Gathering and ensuring community input is an important step when determining what projects to focus on. However the project plans need to be investigated more in-depthly to determine not only what is needed most, but also to provide a facility plan and blueprint that describes in more detail what each project phase entails. The projects should also be prioritized in a 5 year facility plan and this information should be available to the public to keep them well-informed on what each phase entails and what the expected costs associated with each phase are.

Should the board put a property tax hike on the ballot to pay for building projects?

The board should only look into a referendum after exhausting all other funding options. The board should consult with financial experts to determine what types of funding are available to
the district. They should gather input from different government agencies, legislators and legal experts when looking into governmental grants that are available. If the board determines that the only available option is to go out to referendum, then they need to engage the community to gather feedback, and provide detailed information as to what is being proposed to taxpayers and how much their taxes will be affected. The next step thereafter would be to conduct surveys and gather input to determine if there is adequate support for a referendum. Only then after taking these extensive steps and determining that there is adequate support should the board begin investigating and engaging consultants to prepare for a referendum. When I was school board president, our district planned and prepared to go out to referendum for a facility project, which we ultimately decided was not in the best interest of our community, which allowed me to become very familiar and knowledgeable about the processes involved in referendums and determining whether it is the best course of action for a community.

Which other sources of money could the board tap into for such projects?

I believe that the topic of sources of funding should be directed towards financial experts and/or consultants with experience in this area. There should be numerous government grants available to LT, such as legislative grants, that LT could apply for. LT would need to research what types of grants are available and also reach out to legislators to inquire as to available grant funding. Also, LT could reach out to foundations and potential donors, especially those who have ties to the LT community, that may consider donating to LT. Another potential source of funding is the sale of the LT land. However before deciding to sell the land, LT should also consult with financial experts and the administrative committee that it has created to determine whether it is wise to sell the land in today’s market, and of course only within current zoning. If the committee and experts recommend that LT sell the land, then this would provide a large amount of funding, even with a sale within current zoning, to complete some of the planned projects.

What is your view of the board's past effort to sell its land in Willow Springs to an industrial developer?

I, as Pleasantdale School Board President, advocated against the sale of the land to industry. I want to make it very clear that my board and the vast majority of the Pleasantdale community were not opposed to the sale of the land within zoning, but only to the sale to an industrial developer. As I stated previously, the LT land shares a large common border with our elementary school. The board took an oath to do what is in the best interest of its students and having a transportation hub right next to where our youngest learners spend their days - exposing them to daily vehicle/truck emissions - is absolutely not in their best interest. Studies have shown that not only do transportation hubs in close proximity to schools negatively impact students’ health but also result in a decrease in their academic performance. Furthermore, there are statutory methods that multimillion dollar companies can employ to circumvent zoning laws even if the village of Willow Springs opposed a change in zoning, which was one of our community’s biggest fears. I made sure to extensively research zoning and municipal laws and other topics to gain in-depth knowledge on various aspects of the land sale issue in order to ensure that we were doing all we could to protect our students’ and communities’ best interest.

Should the board have let other public bodies and residents know about its effort to go with an industrial buyer, rather than keep it under wraps for the better part of a year? Why or why not?

Yes, the board should have informed the other public bodies of their efforts with an industrial buyer and should have informed the community of its interest in selling to an industrial developer. The community and other public bodies also should have been engaged in the process and been given an opportunity to provide feedback. The Open Meetings Act (OMA) allows for limited exceptions to go into closed session. The exception that was utilized to discuss land sale issues in closed sessions, was the exception of setting a price on selling property, which is a very narrow exception. Topics discussed outside of this exception, should have been discussed in open session which would have given the public privity to such information.

Was the attorney general right to find the board in violation of the Open Meetings Act to discuss selling the land to an industrial developer? Why or why not?

The OMA has strict regulations and restrictions on when you can go into closed sessions and for what reasons, with there being about only 16 exceptions for school boards meetings. Once in closed session, the board must not discuss any subjects or topics outside of that exception. After listening to the tapes myself, I do agree that the subject matter veered off topic in many instances, and that therefore the Attorney General was right to issue its opinion. The AG did release non-binding opinions on most of the tapes which meant the release of the tapes by the board was not mandatory. I do commend this board for making the choice to release the tapes despite not being required by law to do so. However, these topics should not have been discussed in closed session to begin with.

The board has released the recordings of meetings that the attorney general identified as violating the open meetings law. Should the board post them on its website? Why or why not?

I do not think that it is necessary for them to post it on their website as I believe it is accessible through other means.

Is the high school teaching critical race theory, Marxism or any other ideologies? If so, what should be done about it?

I am not aware of CRT or any other ideologies being taught in the classroom, other than perhaps in a historical context. If this did become a concern again in our community as it has in the past, I believe that LT would be open to listening to various concerns and viewpoints from the community, would be willing to properly investigate and address those concerns, to clarify any misinformation and utilize a set process to vet concerns.

Board members are not supposed to delve into the daily operations of school districts but instead lead mostly through policy. Day-to-day operations are to be kept within the realm of the Superintendent and administrations’ role to address and handle. But I as a board member would want to remain readily available to the community to actively listen to any concerns that they may have and to act as a liaison between the district and the community. What it comes down to is open dialogue, the willingness to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner, and for the district to try to find creative solutions and balance in addressing varying viewpoints. I very much enjoy meeting and communicating with various stakeholders and community members to get their perspectives on a variety of topics, and if elected to the LT school board, will continue to do so.

How is the district doing in getting good and bad news to the community?

I think they have done a decent job getting information out to the community on good and bad news, but perhaps they could expand their reach to the greater community. Engaging the greater community can be a challenge as many people use very different modes of communication, but the effort should still be made to do so. Furthermore, I understand LT’s need to limit information to the public, especially in regards to bad news, in order to ensure the confidentiality of minors.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

Other than moving out of the district and/or experiencing an extreme family/personal issue that would require a large amount of my time or attention - I do not foresee any other reasons to not fulfill my term. I did leave my position on the Pleasantdale School Board a little early for various factors that happened simultaneously, such as starting to practice law again after a long hiatus from my legal career and at that exact same time experiencing a very critical and highly stressful issue with a family member that required all of my spare time and attention. That critical family circumstance has resolved and I am at a great point in my career. Also, I felt comfortable with my decision to leave at the time because not only is my youngest graduating from Pleasantdale soon but I also knew I was leaving the board in the very capable hands of the then vice-president, superintendent and board. They are an incredible governance team with outstanding leadership. And I am proud to receive the endorsements of several of the current board members in their individual capacities, most of whom I still keep in touch with today.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I strongly believe in the power of collaboration and open communication. I have consistently, in my past school roles, made it a point to actively listen to stakeholders with various viewpoints and to work collaboratively with school administration to find balanced solutions - always with a focus on doing what is in the best interest of students to help them reach their full potential. If elected to the LT school board I promise to always remain accessible to our stakeholders and to listen respectfully. And while school board elections are to remain nonpartisan, I wanted to mention that not only do I fall pretty straight down the middle politically, but also want the community to know that it is not my intention to push forth any personal agendas or my own political ideologies, but to accurately represent my community’s collective values in making balanced decisions and policies to ensure our students’ success. I believe in maintaining open communication and working through differences respectfully. As an example of this is that throughout the LT land sale, even while espousing different stances, Waterman and I maintained and still do to this day have a good working relationship. I love working to bring people together, especially when working on projects and envisioning ideas. We are after all, in pursuit of the same common goals of seeing our students thrive socially and academically and having our community prosper. I truly believe that when we come together to work in unity that we are capable of attaining any goal we can imagine. I would be honored to represent the LT district and community and would always put in my time, passion and dedication into the position as I’ve done with all my other roles in the past, and doing so with heart and compassion.