Mokena School Board Candidate: Kelli MacMillan

Candidate Name: Kelli MacMillan

Age (as of election day): 45

Town/city of residence: Mokena

School district: Mokena School District 159

Family: I live with my husband Jess, our 3 daughters, and our dog, Sonny D. MacMillan. Our daughters all attend Mokena District 159 (Kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grades).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Education: BA in Business Administration, Finance

Occupation: Finance & Accounting Consultant

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None

What are the pressing issues facing the school board and what do you intend to do about them? I believe the most pressing issues facing our district is the increasing portion of students not meeting grade-level expectations in Math and Reading. We also have a shrinking percentage of 8th graders passing Algebra I. Our teachers are spread thin, trying to effectively teach students within a wider spectrum of abilities. I would enlist teacher input on these issues and suggest the Administration and Board of Education make every effort to provide the additional resources our teachers think can help facilitate improvement.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I will do the diligence and fully inform myself on the issues. I will listen, with an open mind, and hear all perspectives on the issues. I will work to compromise and collaborate on the issues, to reach a consensus that people can get behind.

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

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: I do not want to maintain a status quo. Let's make meaningful improvements in our programming that can benefit every. single. student. in our district. As a feeder district into Lincoln-Way 210, we should raise the bar on our programs to ensure our students' success in high school and beyond.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have invested a significant amount of time educating myself on District 159 which will serve as a solid foundation for my work as a School Board member. My professional experience in finance and contract management affords me skills I'll utilize to help the district with efficient and impactful spending. I've spearheaded multiple District 159 parent/community groups that help connect people & stay connected - and I think people appreciate that.

Why should voters trust you? I have been an active member of the District 159 community and an advocate. I volunteer, I offer to help, I listen, and I am responsive. I am an invested, mom of three kids in the district that wants a better educational experience for every student, not just my own. I am a proponent of transparency from our district leaders, and I think voters can see that means I have nothing to hide - I want people to engage, I want to have conversations and I want to connect on issues that the district faces! There is so much I know we can all agree on.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success? 1. Substantial improvements in our Academic Progress as reported in our annual district report cards. 1. Equally important, I'd love to see substantial improvements in feedback from our teachers and parents via our annual 5 Essentials Survey.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending, and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking? I want the MOST EFFICIENT spending possible while also maximizing the impact on current District 159 students. I do not want to raise taxes on Mokena residents, nor do I think it is necessary to make improvements.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic? I am grateful to all of our educators and the work they did during the pandemic. I can recognize a lot of decisions during the pandemic were made above the district level.

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? Generally speaking, a lot of what the school board does seems to be behind closed doors. Many parents feel disconnected from decisions and don't understand why certain decisions are made. This is part of the reason I am running for school board; I felt on the "outside" and in the dark. As a school board member, I will do my best to continue to connect, respond, and proactively engage with the community. I would love to see more open-forum committees, like the Finance Committee, that allow our community to become more active members in district business.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not? I support parents teaching their own kids what is important to them. Our district opted out of the new Illinois guidance on sexual education, and I support their decision, for our preschool through 8th grade, school district.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district? At this point, critical race theory is not taught in our schools and the district administration has advised me they do not foresee a scenario in which we would teach CRT in elementary or middle school, and I support that. I support parents teaching their own children what is important to them.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so? I am not certain what our current board has done to support racial equality. I would defer to our district parents and community on this question to see what they think.

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? I think we need to devote more resources to help students that need extra help and/or special services. We should also expand enrichment programs, including foreign languages. The Lincoln-Way 210 bar is high, and Mokena needs to fully prepare our students to excel in High School. Let's provide an environment where each student is able to thrive and achieve their full potential. I'd love the district to develop a series of well-defined, measurable goals with accountability to raise student achievement and expand programming.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family? No

What is the best advice ever shared with you? Have a "can do" attitude and success will follow.