Open Letter to '125 for 125' Candidates

Some direct questions to the 125 for 125 Stevenson school board candidates:

I am the proud mother of a senior at Stevenson High School. My son has enjoyed an academically elite education, outstanding social opportunities in the form of clubs and sports, and a high school experience that surpasses most in this country. During his college search we found that every college we visited not only knew of Stevenson high school but looked forward to Stevenson graduates applying to their colleges because these graduates are so prepared emotionally and academically for the college experience. On April 5th we all have the opportunity to vote for four members to fill open school board positions at Stevenson. This election is of great importance to so many of us who want the school to continue to hire the most qualified teachers and administrators, continue to keep our school's finances in the black, and to honor and respect the nature of a diverse, public school system that serves so many. I am quite concerned about three of the candidates who are running for these open positions and would like to ask them to answer some questions that I feel would educate me and the community about their ability to fulfill these board positions in a way that would best serve our community. So, Mr. Cardella, Mr. Brady, and Ms. Powell here are some things that I would like to know.

1) All three of you have said you do not support teaching creationism in the science classroom. However, your website carried terminology that is verbatim from the Discovery Institute that supports teaching Intelligent Design in the public schools.  Do you personally believe in the concept of creationism? I feel that your beliefs around these controversial topics will directly affect your decisions on our school board. If you do believe in creationism, do I have your word that you will never, under any circumstances, try to affect science curriculum change to include creationism or intelligent design?

2) Mr. Cardella, your wife has submitted to the Stevenson school board a letter that is anti-gay and asks the board to not support any gay/lesbian activities. She proceeds to suggest that all gay/lesbian teens are "troubled teens." You have said that you did not write this letter and that you will support all clubs at the school and that you don't support marginalizing any student. However, you have yet to answer this question, do you agree with your wife about gay/lesbian activity? You were part of a group that asked for a short story, "The casual carpool" to be removed from the Stevenson reading list. This story contains a lesbian character and no other "controversial" topics. Is this why you wanted that story removed?  Your personal beliefs about a gay lifestyle are crucial to your ability to fairly address issues on a public school board. I implore you to answer this question honestly.  Stevenson's support of it's gay/lesbian community has allowed all of the students to learn about acceptance, tolerance and respect for alternative lifestyles. Do you? Mr. Brady and Ms. Powell, I would also like to hear your belief system regarding a gay/lesbian lifestyle.

3) The terminology "banning books" is highly inflammatory and I do not think that the three of you are book banners to the public at large. However, Mr. Cardella, you have actively asked the Stevenson administration, teacher, and school board to remove books from their reading lists. This after you had already been given alternative reading material for your child. You have also said that you think a Parent Curriculum Committee should have "input' along with teachers and administrators on the curriculum at Stevenson High School. Do you and the other two candidates think that parents or the school board should have the right to have a book removed from the reading list? Why, after receiving alternative reading for your child, did you continue to go to school board meetings to complain about the reading choices for the other students? Do you believe you should have a say in what my child is assigned to read?

4) All three of you have voiced concerns about the budget management at Stevenson high school. However, I haven't heard one reasonable suggestion as to how to improve the budget. In fact, you clearly didn't do your homework when you recommended removing the driver's ed program (it is state mandated) and the current library renovations. The current board has spent the last two years researching and analyzing cost/benefit analysis on a library that has been in need of renovation for over 20 years. At the forum the other night you suggested that property values have decreased in our area? Are you suggesting that they have decreased due to Stevenson high school? Are you suggesting that some properties that haven't sold in Lincolnshire are due to the high taxes and supposed decline of our school? Have you done your homework on property taxes and values throughout the state of Illinois? Property values have declined throughout our country and our area has seen less decline than the average. Are you suggesting that people might be moving to Lake Forest and Highland Park because they have lower property taxes but dramatically higher housing costs? Are you aware that neither of those highs schools are enjoying the financial security with reserves in case of emergency that our school has? 

5) How will you decrease my property taxes and by how much? Feel free to round up, no problem. What will you eliminate from our school system in order to cut my taxes?

6) How will you improve the academic excellence of Stevenson High School?  Please, be specific.

I do want to thank all three of you and the other four candidates for taking time away from your families to support our community. I thoroughly respect your desire to improve our school system and your willingness to discuss the issues. I look forward to hearing your answers to these questions.

Sincerely,

Lisa Kaplin

Long Grove