Election 2025: Orland District 135 Board Candidate Kelly Chmielewski

ORLAND PARK, IL — The consolidated election is set for April 1, and there are four spots open on the Orland District 135 Board of Education.

There are 10 candidates vying for the seats, including incumbents Elizabeth Jobb and Nichole Browner.

Other candidates include Deborah L. Scumaci, Aisha Zayyad, Jennifer Durkin-Fekete, Ray Morandi, Chad Capps, Vince Oluwaleke, Kelly Chmielewski, and Daniel Finlayson.

Orland School District 135 is a 10-school elementary district serving roughly 5,200 students in Early Childhood through 8th grade. Its board consists of seven members each serving four-year terms.

Candidate:

Kelly Chmielewski

Age (as of election day):

52

Town/city of residence:

Orland Park

School district:

Orland District 135

Family. (Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share.)

My husband's name is Luke and we married in 2009. I have three children, two young adult children from my first marriage and a daughter I share with my husband. My 22-year-old daughter is a graduate of Lewis University. She in on her own, has an apartment and is working at her first job out of college. She is beautiful and brilliant. My son Erik is a history buff and enjoys urban hiking. Erik has decided to enlist in the Navy and is completing his bucket list of things he wants to do, before he enlists. My youngest daughter Karyna is a 7th grader at Jerling Junior High. Karyna loves soccer, riding her scooter, and taking photos of the sunrise.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

Yes. My husband works at the South Cook County Mosquito Abatement District.

Education

T.F South High School in Lansing, IL.

South Suburban College in South Holland, IL.
College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL.

My occupation is Nurse Manager. I have worked in long-term care for 30 years. I am a Licensed Practical Nurse and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. My title is MDS Coordinator. The MDS is an assessment which drives care and translates into payment to the facility from Medicare/Medicaid. I oversee the interdisciplinary process of completion of this assessment and associated documentation. I also am also responsible for ICD-10 coding in the facility.

Previous or current elected or appointed office*

No.

The most pressing issues facing our district are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

The most pressing issue District 135 is facing are the poor test scores. The Illinois School Report Card reflects the students in District 135 are not proficient in reading and math. Each vote I make as a school board member will be with the student's education as a priority. We are here to educate our students so that can be successful adults.

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

My profession and the skills I have as a nurse are what make me different from other candidates. Nurses are different kind of people. We take responsibility and diligence to a higher level as we often have the lives of others in our hands. Many of the skills I have as a nurse will be used as a school board member. I am hard working, honest, reliable, respectful, and responsible. I can find middle ground with different groups of people. I can diffuse and deescalate a situation. I research and triple check my work because an error could cost a life. Nurses also have compassion and care for those that cannot take care of themselves. All these traits make for an excellent school board member.

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

I feel the board should increase their transparency and make more fiscally responsible decisions. Only 60 days of videos of board member meetings are available for viewing. I am certain that more than 60 days' worth of board meetings are important and relevant to the community. To the dismay of a current board member winter MAP scores were not on the agenda at the March 10 board meeting when they should have been, per this board member. The decision to withhold MAP testing scores is one example of the lack of transparency the current board exhibits. Spend and build, build and spend seems to be the mantra of the current board, which lacks fiscal responsibility.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Institute a more challenging curriculum focused on core subjects.

Improve school safety by approving Resource Officers.
Use taxpayer recourses more efficiently to reduce the property tax levy and other expenditures.

I thrive in and am at my best in high stress, chaotic situations. My best day at work was when I was the 11 PM to 7 AM house supervisor of a 250-bed nursing home. There was a storm, and the power went out. The facility was running on backup generators which only provide minimal light. There was a tornado watch, and safety measures had to be taken. There was a flood in the basement with 4 inches of water. I was making rounds in the dark and giving IV medication with a flashlight. I was in charge and responsible for it all. Best day ever! If I can be effective and professional in that kind of environment, I can surely handle my responsibilities as a school board member.

Why should voters trust you?

By asking for your vote I am asking for your trust that I will do the job I am elected to do, and to it well. If elected to the district 135 school board, I will work very hard and do the best job possible for the students, parents, employees, and taxpayers of 135. Each vote I make will be an educated, researched one, that is geared towards the education of the students, all while being fiscally responsible. Please remember, I am also voting for what is right for my child, your child, my neighbors' children, and for my tax dollars, and your tax dollars.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

If elected, I will have a successful term if the students test scores were improved without increased tax levy, but preferably with a reduction in costs.

What guidance should staff be given for dealing with potential ICE enforcement at schools?

District 135 ICE Policy should follow all applicable State and Federal Laws. The Illinois State Board of Education website has detailed information on this topic. The policy should clearly outline what happens step by step if ICE agent attempts access to a District 135 school. Policy should reflect that all students have a right to a free public-school education regardless of immigration status and should be free from bullying or harassment. Staff should be trained so they know exactly what to do if this situation arises. It would also be helpful if staff were available to provide emotional support to students if this situation occurs at a District 135 school.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

The Illinois State Board of Education states "Sex education in Illinois is optional for districts to provide. Parents can also opt students out of instruction". District 135 has opted to provide this education to students and parents have the freedom to opt their child out from the education.

Should cell phones be banned during school? Why or why not?

At the elementary and junior high level, cell phones should be silenced and in the student's locker during school hours. Students should not be making phone calls from the classroom. Students have iPads to complete any research that classroom work requires. A cell phone is not needed in the classroom at this age/grade level.

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?

Orland Park District 135 has the best teachers and staff. What is the district doing right? They hire the best teachers/staff. What could the district improve on? Stop handicapping these amazing teachers/staff. District 135 teachers and staff often speak at board meetings and voice their concerns and even offer a resolution to the problem. How can those improvements be made? The board should seriously consider what the experts the district hired have to say about the situation. The experts would be the teachers and staff doing the job, and who are the best people to make contributions about how to improve that job or outcome.

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

I do not foresee any issues that would impact my ability to complete my term.