Conservatives Kept Out Of Elmhurst D-205 Talks?

ELMHURST, IL – The leader of a conservative parents group says Elmhurst School District 205 excluded the group's viewpoint from discussions about the district's long-term plan.

In emails to Patch this week, Elmhurst parent Tom Chavez said the district made no overture to members of his group, Elmhurst Parents for Integrity in Curriculum, or EPIC, to take part on its strategic planning committee.

He also said the scheduling of daytime focus group meetings did not accommodate those who work during the day.

District spokeswoman Tonya Daniels countered that no one was excluded.

"Five different focus groups were provided for any and all interested community members at varying times to gather as much community input as possible, and the community survey window was extended to ensure that we heard from all community members that wanted to participate," Daniels said in an email.

She said the district received no requests to adjust schedules. Nor did it get any request from Chavez to join the committee, she said.

Since December, Daniels said, the school board has heard a number of presentations about the strategic planning process. That was reported in local media, giving residents ample time to take part, she said.

The district plans to spend nearly $40,000 on the consulting firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to help with the process.

EPIC's views align with those of conservatives around the country. But Chavez doesn't like to call his group conservative. He said people of all ideological stripes who want to improve Elmhurst schools' performance should take part.

The group contends the district emphasizes social-emotional learning and critical race theory at the expense of teaching core subjects. (The district says it doesn't teach critical race theory.)

In an email, Chavez noted the district said it would promote "inclusive engagement" as part of its strategic planning. But he said the district has failed to do so.

"The onus is on the district to ensure the focus groups are 'inclusive' and accommodating to all parents and stakeholders," Chavez said. "It is the district's responsibility to ensure people are not excluded from the process. It is the district's responsibility to ensure the focus groups and steering committee are truly representative of a diversity of community ideas and opinions, and not an echo chamber, whether I'm chosen to be on it or not."

Chavez said a city employee was invited to participate, but not EPIC parents who spoke out on curriculum issues.

"If the goal is to include community leaders, why were none of our elected legislators – including the one who has children in the district – invited to participate as stakeholders?" Chavez said.

He was referring to state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, who has spoken to Chavez's group. Earlier this year, she urged the school board to "clean house."

Chavez wondered why Elmhurst aldermen Mark Mulliner and Emily Bastedo were not invited. Mulliner is a former District 205 technology director, and Emily Bastedo is a former school board member. Earlier this year, Mulliner ran EPIC's Facebook page. (Alderman Jacob Hill took part in the strategic planning meetings; Bastedo is not a member of EPIC.)

Chavez said the focus group list appears "packed" with residents associated with his group's progressive counterpart, Respect Our Students and Educators D205, with a few conservatives "sprinkled in."

"It seems as though the district was more interested in having people affirm their position on (social-emotional learning), instead of doing an honest deep dive into what the community really wants from the school system," Chavez said.

Chavez is considering running for school board next April.