Meet New Lenox D122 Board Of Ed Candidate: Aaron Raatjes

NEW LENOX, IL — Aaron Raatjes is one of five candidates running for four open positions on the New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education in the upcoming April 6 election. Raatjes is a teacher at Lincoln-Way District 210, and currently serves as a board member for the District 122 Board of Education.

Raatjes recently filled out the Patch candidate survey, and his answers can be found below:

If you are a candidate for the April election, and would like to answer our Patch candidate questionnaire, please email andrea.earnest@patch.com.

Name: Aaron Raatjes

Age (as of Election Day): 36

Town/city of residence: New Lenox

School district: New Lenox School District 122

Family: Wife- Krista Raatjes, AM, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

Bachelor of Arts in German Education (9-12) and Art Education (k-12)- Hope College; Master of Arts in Educational Leadership- Concordia University Chicago; Doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision- Loyola University Chicago

Occupation:

Teacher at Lincoln-Way High School District 210- 14 years; Dean of Students- 8 years

Campaign website: Can be found here.

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

NLSD 122 School Board Member

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our board is maintaining vibrant instruction for both our remote learners as well as our full schedule in-person learners. I am very pleased that District 122 currently offers both options for families in our community. District teachers and District administrators have worked incredibly hard to meet the needs of the community and students. It has not been easy, nor has it been perfect. We learn, adapt, and improve. We must continue to improve and provide robust, comprehensive instruction to both groups. This is an absolute priority, and must remain a priority as we address the achievement dip due to Covid-19.

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

While there are differences between myself and the other current 122 board members, I would vote for each one of them. We do not always agree on every detail, but we agree that our job is to serve our students and our community by maintaining a balanced budget and directing policy that ensures the proper education, safety, and wellbeing of our students in a transparent way. Respectful disagreement within a board of education is healthy. It means we are paying attention to what is going on and questioning if our current approach is the best. My experience and interests are in curriculum and policy. This knowledge and skill set make me an asset to our board of education as curriculum and policy review are ongoing responsibilities for any Board of Education.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

N/A

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

N/A

Why should voters trust you?

I believe a school district needs dedicated board members who are interested in advocating for our students by ensuring that all aspects of the district are managed properly and effectively with a sincere dedication to transparency. I am committed to providing the oversight to make this happen, and I know it is necessary if we are going to give kids the opportunities they need to thrive. My record as a career educator, coach, CASA volunteer, and Board of Education member reflect my dedication.

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

I would define success in two areas, academics and fiscal managements. I am confident the district can minimize the tax burden on citizens while maintaining and improving our facilities and programming. The debt structure of the district is a ongoing focus for our administration and our current board of education. It must remain a focal point if we are going to be good stewards of the community's dollars. I am also very aware that the district has a lot of work to do to in terms of catching up and exceeding pre-Covid-19 achievement benchmarks. A successful term must also address these academic deficits.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

Effectively managing taxpayer dollars is one of the most important roles of a board member. The challenge our community faces is maintaining and upgrading our older facilities while paying off our construction debt. This must be accomplished with an eye toward limiting the financial burden of increased taxes. The role of the board is to manage debt effectively by routinely examining how it is structured in order to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. We all want to get the most out of every dollar. The other aspect that requires routine attention is determining what maintenance and upgrades are necessary or worthwhile in terms of their benefits to our students and burden to the school budget. Neglecting routine maintenance and necessary upgrades will cost our community more in the long run. Some projects must be budgeted for, but careful analysis of what gets done and when helps our kids have great schools while protecting taxpayers from unnecessary costs.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

N/A

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 district recently established the NLSD Diversity and Inclusion committee. Part of the work of this committee is being intentional and honest in working towards equity for all stakeholders. This shows recognition that our schools must continuously assess how well we are addressing the needs of our students and school community. Our administration and staff know that our schools must be a place where everyone is welcome and provided what they need to be successful. I would like to see the district work towards a cycle for formal needs assessment to address any inadequacies in an ongoing way. We can only address problems if we are aware of them. Putting in place the systems to identify these needs will help us in achieving that.

What are your thoughts on the district’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic? Are you in favor of remote learning, in-person learning or a hybrid of the two? Do you support a mask mandate for students and school staff, or mandatory coronavirus testing for both students and staff?

District 122 responded well to the pandemic given the information available to the district and ever-evolving circumstances surrounding Covid-19. The board of education was faced with balancing the well-being of students, staff, and families from a perspective of physical well-being, but also social and emotional well-being. Every family’s needs and circumstances are unique. The board of education tried to accommodate as many needs as possible by offering fully remote and fully in-person options. The community's input and support was crucial in reacting to the significant challenges posed by the pandemic. The district continues to respond to changing circumstances and remains sincere in its effort to meet the needs of students and the entire school community. I believe in-person instruction is best for our students, as long as it can be provided safely. Masks are an important part of maintaining that safety and keeping students in school. I support a mask mandate as long as masks continue to play a role in maintaining safe, in-person instruction in our buildings. I am not in favor of mandatory coronavirus testing. The district has shown that it can safely maintain in-person instruction without the additional cost of mandatory testing.

When the vaccine is available to them, do you support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students and staff?

I fully embraced the opportunity to be vaccinated, but I believe Covid-19 vaccinations should remain a choice. For those that are skeptical of Covid-19 vaccines, I feel mandating vaccinations could foster discord and further skepticism rather than trust. Ultimately, a mandate could slow down our goal of safely returning all students to full, in-person instruction.

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

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

N/A