Mokena School Board Candidate: Julie Oost

Candidate Name: Julie Oost

Age (as of election day): 51

Town/city of residence: Mokena

School district: Mokena School District 159

Family: I am a wife to Kevin, and mom to triplet 11-year-old boys - Liam, Noah, and Izaac, who are in fifth grade at Mokena Intermediate School

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? The candidate elected not to answer this question

Education: I have a B.S. degree in Finance and Economics, and an M.S. in Economics from Illinois State University.

Occupation: In my professional career, I am proud to have (1) advised two commissioners at the Illinois Commerce Commission — marshaling through tough regulatory policy issues; (2) Worked as an economist at a law firm — providing a public policy point of view and advocacy for clients; and (3) led a regulatory and legal team at a communications company - addressing complex compliance and contract issues. In my almost thirty-year corporate career, each of these professional experiences has provided me with invaluable experience dealing with complex issues that required careful analysis, collaboration, and thoughtful execution. Personally, being a wife to Kevin for 15 years and a mom to my boys are my greatest accomplishments - managing a family and career while staying involved in the community is something I am genuinely grateful for.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None

What are the most pressing issues facing the district and what do you intend to do about them? The issues I find most pressing for the School Board are (1) student/employee safety; (2) operating within a sound budget; (3) transparency and open dialogue; (4) student mental health; (5) investigating program offerings and improvements; and (6) employee retention and morale. This is not to say there are necessarily problems in these areas, but these are issues that I find important and essential. I would look to ensure these issues are adequately and thoughtfully addressed with input from all parties.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I prefer to focus on what I know and who I am instead of other candidates primarily because I recognize that people sometimes have differing views; however, that should invite healthy discussion. I believe we should focus on putting the children first, operating within a sound budget, and working in a collaborative manner. I hope that whoever is elected would commit to representing the community and honoring differences of opinion in a constructive way —keeping the focus on academics, the students, and the budget.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district? The candidate elected not to answer this question

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: If elected, I would consider my term a win if I could look back on the time spent in the office and say that my actions and words were in keeping with honoring my faith and my family; that the school saw positive change; and that the children saw that something good can happen when you get involved with your community. Ultimately, I want my family and me to be part of a safe, happy, and thriving community — one where people can feel safe voicing opinions and working collaboratively to do what is best for our town. I firmly believe that a strong community needs strong schools.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? The candidate elected not to answer this question

Why should voters trust you? The candidate elected not to answer this question

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success? The candidate elected not to answer this question

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending, and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking? The candidate elected not to answer this question

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic? The candidate elected not to answer this question

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? The candidate has elected not to answer this question.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not? The candidate elected not to answer this question

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district? The candidate elected not to answer this question

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

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? The candidate elected not to answer this question

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family? The candidate elected not to answer this question

What is the best advice ever shared with you? The candidate elected not to answer this question