Peter Guse, District 157-C Board Of Education Candidate

FRANKFORT, IL — Peter Guse is a candidate for Frankfort District 157-C Board of Education. There are nine candidates running for four open positions in this race.

The consolidated election is April 4.

Guse's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire can be found below:

Your name:

Peter Guse

Age (as of election day):

36

Town/city of residence:

Mokena

School district:

157-C

Family:

I’ve been married for 8 years and have lived in Mokena for the last 7. My wife and I have two sons. Our oldest Owen (4) will start at Grand Prairie in the Fall and Reid just turned 3.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Occupation:

Management Consultant - 12 years

Campaign website or Facebook:

None

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

I believe the most pressing issue is the recruitment and retention of teachers. The three main areas crucial to both retain and recruit an excellent staff are competitive pay and benefits, career advancement opportunities, and a supportive work Environment. To keep pay competitive, I will use the resources available to the board to benchmark neighboring and top districts across the state to make sure we are competitive, and I fully support the use of multi-year contracts to provide stability to our staff. Additionally, I am committed to ensuring that the pathway to higher positions and pay is transparent, and that all staff members have access to the training necessary to advance their careers, whether it be through additional schooling, workshops, or mentorship programs. Finally, I believe mentorship and cross-functional training can help foster a culture of collaboration and a supportive work environment.

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

I look forward to working with a diverse group of individuals with varying backgrounds, as I believe all candidates have unique educational and professional experiences that would be valuable to our board. If I were to highlight one difference, I believe my background in both engineering and business provides me with a unique perspective. I value STEM education and understand the skills needed to prepare students for these types of careers. Additionally, I also can be relied upon to balance fiscal responsibility with the needs of our students and teachers.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

The district is in a great place, and I’m eager to continue the success of previous boards and maintain the district’s positive trajectory.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

In addition to teacher recruitment and retention, I have serious concerns about how our students interact with technology, specifically with social media and AI language models. I believe social media is proving to be the biggest challenge to mental health ever seen, and AI language models could become an 'Easy Button' for students, potentially undermining their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. These issues have serious implications for our students’ educational and personal development, and we must take a proactive approach to addressing them. Developing programs to limit time spent on devices and encouraging in person interaction is a must. This includes providing resources to help students, teachers, and families use technology safely and effectively, while also fostering opportunities for student to engage with each other in person.

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

My education, profession, and parental experience have prepared me to make informed decisions as a board member.

Why should voters trust you?

My children are at the beginning of their education journey, and I plan to live in this community until they complete it. It’s in my family’s best interest for this district and community to succeed, and I want to clarify that I have no conflicts of interest

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

I do not have a personal agenda; my plan is to collaborate with the other board members and give my perspective to help the board make informed decisions.

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

Like with any government entity or business, we want to use our resources in the most efficient way possible. Schools and property taxes are important factors in determining a community’s desirability, and as a board, we need to balance these two considerations as best we can.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

As a district, we need to continue addressing both the academic and social learning loss caused by the COVID pandemic. However, I think the district did an admirable job under the circumstances.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school boards saw extremely heated disagreements during public meetings. If elected, what changes, if any, need to be made to ensure meetings are run efficiently while still allowing open discussions?

First and foremost, everyone needs to have the opportunity to be heard. However, if individuals are not willing to have civil discussions, they may lose their chance to speak.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

As far as I know sex education is not currently included in the curriculum. However, if it were to be introduced, I would want to ensure that it is taught at an appropriate age.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district?

I think the term 'Critical Race Theory' is ill-defined, so this question is difficult to respond to but it’s my understanding that there have not been any proposals to introduce a 'Critical Race Theory' curriculum to our district.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

Yes

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?

I believe the test scores are a real bright spot for our district, and I would look to continue to build on our current success while ensuring that we do not become complacent and take those achievements for granted.

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:

You’re never too important to be nice to people.