Susan Dalton, Candidate For CHSD 230 Board of Education: Election 2025

ORLAND PARK, IL — Susan Dalton is running with the 230 United party for the Consolidated High School Dist. 230 Board of Education in the April 1 election. Early voting starts March 17 through March 31.

Your Name

Susan A. Dalton

Campaign website:

230United

Campaign social media (include links for Facebook, Instagram, etc.):

230United Facebook, 230United Instagram

Town/city of residence:

Orland Park

School district:

Consolidated High School District 230

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

I am a Carl Sandburg graduate and lifelong resident of District 230. My husband, John, and I moved to Orland Park to raise our children, who also graduated from Carl Sandburg.

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 brother-in-law, Tim Dalton.

Education:

AAS from Moraine Valley Community College with a focus on business administration.

Occupation. Please include years of experience.:

Office Administrator/ HR Coordinator - 15 + Years

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Elected CHSD 230 School Board Member since 2013. I am currently the Vice President of the Board and Student Support and Development Committee Chair.

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

One issue facing all schools in Illinois is the teacher/administrator shortage. This shortage has created a very competitive market. We continue to work on teacher/administrative retention and showcase our district to the prospective candidate pool. We have been creative in fostering interest in education with a teacher/school support internship which exposes interested students into the world of education.

School finances are always a challenge as you balance the needs of our students and staff with the concerns of our stakeholders, like we have for the past 20 years of balanced budgets with creative solutions. District 230 gives great educational value to the communities that we serve, as our cost per student compared to surrounding schools is on the lower end of the spectrum while delivering strong student outcomes.

To add to the challenges of our finances is the never-ending, non-funded state mandates that come from Springfield. Some of these mandates come with little notice to afford proper planning for their financial impact on our budgets. Our state legislatures continuously pass various mandates without proper funding. We will continue to work with our state legislators to inform them of the impact their bills have upon our school district.

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

With my 12 years on the Board, I would say my experience and continued efforts to learn through the Illinois School Board Association (IASB) offerings. For those new to the position, there is a learning curve which takes time and effort before you can be an effective board member. I understand where our district currently stands in student achievement and what efforts we have put in place for improvement. I am aware of the many legal limitations we face with state mandates and understand how our schools are funded. I was naïve when I first was seated on the board and have grown in my knowledge of what my role is and how I can effectively make changes for improvement in this ever-changing landscape of high school education.

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

I find this question to be difficult for challengers to answer. There is a great deal of information that goes into the complex decision-making process that only those serving on the Board truly understand. I have heard what other candidates are proposing to improve District 230 and am happy to report that we are already exercising strategies addressing most of their ideas.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform?

The world is changing at a faster rate than we have ever seen before. We need to prepare our students for that world. We will need to tap into new resources, give new career opportunities and flex our curriculum to meet their needs. This is a challenge my experience is ready for.

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

Over my tenure, we have had balanced budgets without maximizing the levy. We have made improvements throughout the district including an array of safety improvements, energy saving enhancements (LED lighting and solar panels), upgraded athletic fields, and Stagg’s expansion project.

As a board member, I have experienced many adverse situations. Our district was at the forefront to fight for fair property tax funding (against proposed Senate Bill 16) which led to getting a more equitable solution with Evidence Base Funding, saving our district millions of dollars if Senate Bill 16 passed. I was on the Board during those trying days of the pandemic, working through best practices to keep our students and staff safe upon their return.

I have been involved with several negotiations trying to strike a fair balance between our food service staff, our support staff and our teachers and our taxpaying stakeholders. Finding that balance to retain excellent teachers, hardworking support staff and our dedicated food service members. I am proud of the opportunities we have afforded our students.

We expanded AP/Honors courses, CTE courses, innovative internships, the Advisory/ Intervention period, additional social-emotional supports, strengthening our special needs programs, summer school offerings along with expanded co-cocurricular and sports offerings to name of few of many accomplishments over my tenure.

Why should voters trust you?

I represent the entire district and ensure our schools are equitable for all the students that we serve. I take my position to heart and have dedicated myself to our students, our teachers and staff and the District 230 Community as a whole. I have worked hard to fulfill my fiduciary responsibilities and kept my oath of office. I have been recognized by IASB every year for my ongoing participation in educational opportunities they provide school board members.

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

A successful term for me would be to add additional curriculum offerings so our students are prepared for this advanced world with additional course offerings and career internships, all while being accountable to our stakeholders. I would like to see a renewed collaboration with our teachers and staff as we provide new experiences for our students and move the district forward. I would like to strengthen our students’ voice as we govern this district with their thoughts and energy. We have made progress regarding this initiative, and I want to see this through as they have so much to offer.

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

Our district has policies and procedures in place for this situation. Currently, the executive order is focused on immigrants who have committed a crime. In the case of an ICE agent presenting a proper warrant, we are obligated by law to cooperate. Our staff is trained should the need arise, with the support of our building and district administrators.

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

District 230’s curriculum is designed to challenge students and prepare them for life after high school. Teaching a variety of ideologies in a historical context is important for students to develop critical thinking and understand different perspectives.

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

I believe this is a local issue down to the classroom. The teachers of District 230 can utilize cell phone cubbies or can allow students access to their phones in their classrooms. Our teachers determine how best to manage their classrooms regarding the use of cell phones.

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

I believe sex education is an essential part of the health curriculum. Our curriculum addresses reproductive anatomy, sexual health, and social/emotional aspects of relationships. All students, regardless of their sexual orientation, deserve accurate and comprehensive education to make informed decisions about their well-being and safety.

Do you think property taxes are too high, too low, or just about right?

No one is raising their hand to pay higher property taxes, I get that. Unfortunately, due to how schools are funded in Illinois, this causes us to rely heavily on property taxes to fund our three schools. Approximately 80% of our funding comes from local property taxes, approximately 14% comes from the State and roughly 6% comes from the Federal Government. We work diligently to manage the budget efficiently, maximize grants, and reduce costs. The value of highly rated school districts improves the quality of our communities and increases property values.

How do you feel about TIF districts? Do they hurt or benefit schools? Explain.

It all depends on the proposed TIF districts. District 230 has nine different municipalities within its boundaries. We need to be cognizant of how those TIF districts affect our entire D230 community and how it affects our finances.

Obviously, commercial TIFs do not produce additional student enrollment, but residential TIFs could. Residential TIFs can cause additional budgetary strains onto the district. That burden is then passed onto the entire District 230 taxpaying community. Unfortunately, municipalities have the sole authority to pass TIF districts without support from the other taxing bodies. The only time the other taxing bodies have a vote is when an extension of an existing TIF is requested (10 additional years) or is requesting an extended TIF (which is typically 35 years in length).

TIFs place an additional burden on taxpayers. Ideally, when there is a true need to create a TIF district, the municipality works with the other taxing bodies to create an Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) that lessens the burden on those taxing bodies. For schools, this is especially necessary to relieve the cost burden of any additional enrollment coming from a residential TIF district.

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?

District 230 excels at providing students with support they need to grow academically. We foster relationships, so students have an adult they can trust and bring their concerns to. We offer opportunities for our students to practice leadership skills and become more confident. We meet our students where they are and provide them with structure and support to grow and succeed. We have identified areas where we need to provide additional support to at-risk students and are tracking their success and that of our programs. We are currently implementing several programs to improve student outcomes from addressing chronic absenteeism, to freshman on track, and to intervention support for those students that are not meeting satisfactory standards.

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

I do not believe so. I have served twelve years in this role, so I have shown my dedication to this elected volunteer position.