District 161 Candidates Take Part in Forum

Five candidates, four seats, one ballot. That is the lineup for residents casting a ballot for the Flossmoor School District 161 board of education on Tuesday, April 9.

Residents on the fence about which way to vote were given an opportunity to meet the candidates and hear their ideas about the district at a candidate forum at Parker Junior High School a week before the election Tuesday, April 2.

The forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Homewood-Flossmoor Area.

The candidates running for Flossmoor School District 161 seats are: Timijanel Boyd Odom (incumbent), Christine Johnson Marks (incumbent), Stephen M. Paredes, Shelley Amuh and Lisa M. Harrell.

As the candidates took their seats inside the school's gym, more than 70 residents filled folding chairs and bleachers to hear the candidates' thoughts on the district's budget, a possible switch to grade centers, potential challenges in the future of the district, the role of the arts in education and more.

During the forum, each candidate was given three minutes for an opening statement, followed by between a minute-and-a-half and a minute for submitted questions and two minutes for a closing statement.

Dealing with budget concerns, Marks made note that the district is a $32-million dollar business and board members serve not only parents and schools, but the community as a whole.

“Everyone has a stake in the success of our schools, and a school board member's job is to represent every single member of the community,” she said. “Sorry that's not touchy-feely, it's a very touchy-feely job, too. It's also a $32-million business and it's a tough business.”

Technology also was a heavily discussed topic at the forum, with each candidate stating that advances need to not only be used by students, but parents as well.

“We have to take technology to a new level in order to achieve that academic improvement we're all striving for,” she said. “With that technology we also need to put in a communication piece with the parents. … We have a learning process as well, I think that's the biggest challenge.”

Understanding the roles of various members of the community within the district was a point of emphasis for Harrell, who called for more transparency within the district to improve communication between the district and residents.

“Transparency of understanding what is the role of the community, what is the role of a parent, what is the role of a teacher, what is the role of administration, what is the role of the board,” she said. “That starts the conversation, so that we know where we're going.”

Paredes stressed the importance of arts when asked about what role the arts may the future of SD 161.

“The arts program is essential and we need to find a way to make it work,” he said. “You don't need to sacrifice, you need to find a creative way to integrate.”

Odom used her opening and closing statements to stress the importance of finishing the plans laid out by the current board.

“We have an outline of what the district wanted and where the we wanted to go,” she said. “We have been working on that road map for the last four years. …. Mainly, what I want to do, and why I want to continue, is because we need to complete this.”

With five candidates running for four seats on the board of education, somebody is going to be left out in the cold on Wednesday, April 10. Which candidate stood out to you from the forum?

Let Patch know in the comments below.

Looking for more information about the April 9 election? Check out Election Central 2013.