Elias Lopez, LTHS Board Candidate

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

Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Elias Lopez

Town of residence:

Hodgkins

Age:

No answer.

Campaign contact email:

No answer.

Family:

Rose Marie, Arie Mariel, Viviana Rose, Elias III and Melina Rose

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Yes, my wife, Rose Marie, is the deputy clerk in the Village of Hodgkins.

Education:

LTHS and the school of life

Occupation:

Hodgkins Director of Parks

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Elected to the La Grange District 105 Board of Education in 2019 and D105 Board of Ed President from 2021-present.

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

Diversity and belonging are the most important issue facing LTHS. In order for all students to succeed, they must feel like they are in an environment where they feel safe and accepted. At D105, we began to see gains with our most vulnerable population when we began to focus more attention on making sure our schools are welcoming and treat all with dignity. Of course, there is still an emphasis on accountability but making students feel like their environment is a place where they can learn actually results in learning. That is how you start to make gains with the achievement gap. To accomplish this, I hope to work collectively with the diversity committee and most importantly working with the LT board to make this happen.

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

I do not think there is a critical difference between any of us candidates. We are all looking to serve district 204 and all of the communities who will be feeding into LTHS with all that we can. I am the only candidate who is a working man who attended the school of life. I am also the only candidate who has ever lived in or represented the Hodgkins community. I think my unique background and experience provide a perspective that is very important in order for LTHS to adequately serve all students. I also have more experience serving on a board of education than any of the other candidates and my time rivals that of D204’s longest serving member.

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

As a D105 board member and president, I have overseen teacher and paraprofessionals contract negotiations. I have also helmed the D105 board as we sought to navigate through and after the pandemic. Currently, I am working on D105’s next strategic plan.

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

The current D204 board has had to navigate a variety of challenges including replacing several members who have resigned. The near-constant overturn is tough for many reasons. The board members are all very new and learning. I see an evolution and some growth. I believe the board is doing the best that they can do. I hope to win this election to bring a little more experience to the board to offer a longer and broader view of the impact of decisions.

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

Figuring out a tax levy is never easy. I think the increase in the state’s recognition of LT as an exemplary school in a long time justifies the investment taxpayers make in the school. We must always remember that we are stewards of the taxpayers and be mindful of giving them a good investment.

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

LTHS is on the right path to helping to bridge the gap between both low- and high-income students. They hold all kinds of supportive programs and workshops for all students. I think one of the key components of academic success lies with us as parents. It can be really tough trying to get your teenager to study and work hard but a strong work ethic is just as important as high test scores and I think we can all be helping to make that happen at home, regardless of financial status.

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

Continuing to offer tutoring at lunch and before and after school is very helpful. Not all LTHS students can afford private tutoring. There are other supports offered by the school that can be increased but making all students feel welcome and included is also incredibly important. Isn’t it human nature to work harder at your job when you are somewhere feeling valued?

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

LT has plenty of funds that can be used for different projects. I think a fresh set of eyes with some experience on another board can help keep things in perspective. If elected, I will do my best to take any burden off of our stakeholders by staying away from any form of referendum.

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

I have not seen any reason why the board should have to put a referendum on the ballot. I have extensive experience with large scale projects both at D105 and at the Hodgkins Park District and will not hesitate to commune with some of our trusted partners in those endeavors to ensure that LT is making good decisions. Of note, while board president in D105, we undertook a project to install air conditioning in our schools and we did not have to go to our taxpayers to make that happen despite years of grumbling that a referendum might be required to succeed with such a project.

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

I am not familiar enough with the finances at LT at this time to speak intelligibly about this, but I will do my best to figure them out if I am elected. I do know that at times funds can be moved around and relocated to use for different projects.

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

I believe that the board hoped to be good stewards of the taxpayer money with regard to the land sale. They probably saw that there was more revenue on the industrial side rather than the residential. With that being said, I know that when a school board undertakes a significant decision to make a big change, it is essential to involve the community early on to get the proper buy in. While on the D105 board, we changed our junior high students from a traditional schedule to block scheduling. To prepare our school community for this, the principal and district held public informational meetings and rolled out the plan over a few years. Nothing was surprising or unexpected by our community members. That buy in is so important and if you do not have it, you lose trust, which is hard to earn back.

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 let other public bodies and residents know. The school community is now divided and some of our community members have valid mistrust for the board and administration. If elected I will do my best to bring all stakeholders together and most importantly be transparent with regard to anything pertaining to the sale of the Willow Springs property.

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?

Yes, the attorney general is right. They are the governing body of OMA. If you break the rules you should be held accountable.

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 don’t know. I guess if all the regular meetings are posted online, maybe they should be?

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

I don’t think these things are being taught. I don’t think it is a school board member’s role to micromanage the content of classes. There are hundreds and maybe thousands of classes each year at LT! However, if there is a valid concern about a class, I would certainly want to hear about it.

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

The social media for LT seems pretty good and the Patch sure does a good job of keeping tabs on things!

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

Please know that I take every position that I'm in very seriously. One of many things that I instill in our children is commitment and not by teaching them but by showing them. I have been on the La Grange D105 board for 6 years and during this time I have been blessed by never missing a meeting. Times have been tough, especially during COVID, but I stuck it out and attended all meetings regardless of whether they were on zoom or in person. If you ask my current and former board members why they chose me to be the board president I think they would say that I work well with others and most importantly am a good listener.

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

If elected to the D204 board, I promise to do my best to support and work with all stakeholders, whether you are from Western Springs, Brookfield, or Willow Springs; everyone’s voice matters and I am here to listen. That goes for the staff at LTHS as well; whether you are on the janitorial staff or the superintendent; your voice matters to me. Last but not least, my greatest motivation is to do right by our greatest investment in our future, our LT students.