Chris Kozelka Campbell, LTHS Board Candidate

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

Here are her responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Chris Kozelka Campbell

Town of residence:

La Grange

Age:

49

Campaign contact email:

No answer

Family:

Ed, Kennedy (LT ’26), Chase (LT ’28) & Calvin (LT ’31) with our dogs, Wrigley & Scout

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband has been on D102 BOE & is finishing his 8th year of service.

Education:

LTHS ’93, University of Iowa ‘98

Occupation:

Founder & CEO of Gemini Gymnastics Academy

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None

The single most pressing issue facing the school board is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Every school board in the past & future will face issues. There are many serious issues facing the LTHS school district; funding, curriculum decisions, student support services, and facility improvements, to name a few. However, the single most pressing issue is not any one of these challenges on its own, but rather the need to unite the community behind the common goal of strengthening our public investment in education.

In recent years, division within the community has made it harder to address the district’s challenges effectively. When stakeholders, parents, teachers, students, administrators & taxpayers are at odds, progress stalls. The success of any school board initiative depends on broad community buy-in & collaboration. Without it, even the best-laid plans face unnecessary roadblocks.

If we can rebuild trust & foster a shared commitment to improving LTHS, tackling the district’s other issues will become more manageable. A united community can better advocate for resources, implement thoughtful policies & support the work needed to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education. Re-establishing this unity should be our top priority, as it will create the foundation for long-term success in all other areas.

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

After participating in the League of Women Voters’ non-partisan forum with the
other D204 candidates, it seems that we have more similarities than differences. One difference that gives me a unique perspective is that I come from a family of K-12 educators, so I have a great understanding of the day-to-day challenges teachers face. Additionally, I have firsthand experience with IEPs and 504 plans and serve on the Board of Advisors for the LTHS INCubator Entrepreneurship program.

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

As the founder and CEO of Gemini Gymnastics Academy in La Grange, I’ve spent 20 years creating an environment where children grow and thrive. Running a successful business has given me experience in financial responsibility, capital projects, and leadership; all skills I will bring to the school board. I am deeply committed to education and community engagement. I served on the Renew D102 Facilitating Team, a community-led initiative that worked to align school facilities with the D102 Vision 2030 strategic plan. Our goal was to develop a comprehensive plan to renew every district building, ensuring that our schools remain well-equipped to support students' needs. This experience reinforced my dedication to strategic planning, financial stewardship, and long-term educational success.

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

Based on the experience of my children, the positive culture of the school & the improvements that are being made right before my eyes, the current school board seems to be performing very well.

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

The district’s property taxes are just about right & my take on the importance of public schools for educating our children means that whether I have school-aged children or not, I see the value in paying to support children’s education at every grade level because I believe in public education.

What is your view of students' performance on standardized tests? What can be done to improve scores?

In my LT graduating class of ’93, there were twice as many National Merit Finalists as there were this year, so there is always room for improvement. It is important to recognize that the LT graduating class of 2024 attends 173 colleges in 38 states, Canada, Ireland & Italy with scholarships totaling $16,682,000. It is worth noting that there are students that possess trade/vocational skills that standardized tests do not account for.

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

We need to support all students and while opportunities for additional support exist, it can be challenging to engage the families of students that could benefit the most regardless of the method of contact used to reach them. When opportunities are available and under-utilized, gaps tend to remain.

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

Yes, the board is on the right track with capital projects to improve ADA accessibility, safety, modernize aging infrastructure & provide an up-to-date learning environment, all of which are critical for students to learn & thrive. For our district to attract & retain excellent teachers & staff, these upgrades are required.

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

I look forward to learning more before having an opinion on the district going to a referendum.

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

The sale of the Willow Springs property and grants are both potential revenue generators that do not include a referendum.

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

I am quite familiar with how municipalities and zoning work as I ran into this issue when wanting to open Gemini Gymnastics Academy in La Grange. In 2005, I had to apply for a Special Use Permit before opening my business as the area was not zoned for my use. After making my case to the Planning Commission & providing their required studies, the Village of La Grange decided to grant me the Special Use Permit. Had the village not agreed to issue that change in zoning, I would not have been able to open my business in that location. LT owns land that is currently a dead asset to the district. It is Willow Springs who holds the keys to how the land is used by way of zoning ordinances & it is entirely the municipality’s willingness to change how that property is zoned or not, not LT’s.

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?

See my previous answer.

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?

I am aware that there are rules for what constitutes a BOE meeting, however I have not done the ISBE school board training yet so I cannot comment.

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?

Transparency is generally appreciated. Again, the zoning of the property is not an LT decision.

Is the high school teaching critical race theory, Marxism or any other ideologies?

If so, what should be done about it? Having a junior & a freshman at LT, I have no evidence of critical race theory, Marxism or any other controversial ideologies are being taught in the curriculum D204 is using. If those things were being taught, I’m sure that there would be Patch articles aplenty.

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

I receive a monthly email with Board Briefs. Anyone can join the email list to receive the monthly emails.

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

I cannot think of a reason aside from health or family that would limit by ability to serve for a full four-year term of office.

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

My goal is to provide conditions for children to thrive and become the best versions of themselves so they can successfully launch into adulthood. Serving on the LTHS D204 school board would allow me to advocate for policies and programs that nurture students’ mental, social, emotional, physical, and academic development. I believe that by creating an environment that prioritizes positive learning experiences, personal growth and equitable access to opportunities, we can help shape the next generation into resilient, confident, capable, and healthy young adults.
Voters can watch the League of Women Voters’ candidate forum for LTHS D204 here: h>ps://youtu.be/SCG42bC0_KM?si=ragVGY4yqpr01Mop