Endorsements

“Tom Chavez has the correct thinking for the best pathway out of the mess the past District 205 School Board ignored. Tom is intelligent, bright and sees what’s most important at this particular time, 2023. Tom is, an initiator, an organizer, and a doer, he will push for the best protocols to be completed. He will fight for the students to excel without leaving kids behind. Intellect is always applauded but without the proper ‘thinking’, intelligence can lead groups the wrong direction. Tom Chavez knows the difference and has the ability to chose the best scenario because he also has the right heart. “ -Joe

First I would like to thank you for running for SD205 school board. I have three children and am fortunate that they are part of the dual language program at Conrad Fischer. As much as I am grateful for the many great teachers at Conrad Fischer, there are a number of significant issues I see the program and the school district face that I would like to briefly touch on with you.

1. There is a significant lack of work-ethic being taught at the elementary level. Since voluntary homework is not graded, nor are tests given (such as how we were taught), I am the one who has to act as a teacher and push all 3 of my young children to do homework. It is extrememly difficult and time-consuming.

2. Since I dont see homework, tests coming home, I have no idea how my children are doing and what they are learning. I am constantly badgering my teacher’s children to see how they are doing which I feel doesn’t create a good parent/teacher relationship.

3. Grades are ambigious and few and far between. The 1-4 grading system doesnt work and instead of a progress report, grading system that is specific and given every quarter instead of twice a year would be especially helpful to know where children are falling behind and needs to be addressed.

4. With the recent passing of the property tax increase, where is all this money going and why hasnt the school district done more to cut costs? It appears the administration is bloated with way to many chiefs and not enough teachers to keep class sizes small. District 205 I feel spend way too much money on consultants, administration and not enough on the teachers who are actuallly teaching the children.

5. Time and again, we hear from D205 consultants how bad electronic devices are for kids, but we have 1 or 2 workbooks in elementary school and no textbooks? How are kids supposed to learn to take their time, answer questions, if 1-2 hours a school day are taught on an iPad playing fun video games that teach kids? Its a huge waste of time and money for Ipad and licensing programs. This makes things easier on teachers but I feel hinders children’s education greatly.

6. Since the children are learning two languages, the expectation is the children will be behind in Language Arts up to until Middle School. Just because that is the expectation, why arent we doing more to address these need? Why isnt there a rigorous summer program to help children at mimimum get to grade level or get ahead? Shouldn’t we be challenging the children to push themselves? Summer is a time where we have the ability to allow the children to take classes they enjoy and I think is a real opportunity for the school district as a whole to improve themselves. I would be happy to pay out of pocket and I am sure other parents would as well to help their children get ahead.

I can tell you, my 4th grader does no writing at home and you can see the quality in the composotion and spelling in the little school work that does come home. By 4th grade, he should be writing simple and clear sentences with little errors. That is not what I am seeing. From parents I spoke to, this issue is clear across 4th grade.

The district has tried to reinvent the wheel and not keeping class sizes small. I think the teacher quality is great but the amount of information the school district is teaching and the way it does needs great improvement. Teaching children more than just reading and math (more science, history, geography) and keeping chilren accountable for their grades I feel would improve the overall education at D205. A strong work ethic being taught at an early age would go a long way. It concerns be greatly. Considering how much this school district spends per child, quality of education should be much higher.

–Concerned Conrad Fischer Parent