Scott Waldbusser for D89 School Board

Thank you to each and everyone who supported, encouraged, and followed me, Juan Peralta for D89 School Board and Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board as we ran for school board to bring Accountability, Transparency & Excellence back to D89. I'm truly grateful for everything you've done, and appreciate all of the new friends and connections I have made. Congratulations to Scott Pope for D89 School Board, Yannick Koger for D89 School Board and JessicaMcGe on the victory, and all of the best to them.

While not the outcome we wanted, it is our hope that the issues we and others have been raising for years will finally be addressed so that teachers can feel valued and heard, students can receive a true academic education, and parents are listened to.

This was an amazing experience, and I would do it all over again. While I wasn't naive to the mudslinging I would likely run into at various times, I was somewhat surprised (and disappointed) at how political and divisive this endeavor became. I'll likely put all my notes together in some form so that I can clearly archive this experience, and perhaps I'll share this for anyone who wants to see what the 'inside' of this process truly looked like.

Tomorrow is the last day to vote! if you want students, parents, and teacher over politics, vote Scott Waldbusser for D89 School Board, Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board and Juan Peralta for D89 School Board for D89 School Board!

You can vote for 1-4-5 at any polling place in DuPage County - see the link below:

cms5.revize.com

Early voting is open, and Election Day is April 4th. Vote Waldbusser - McGrane - Peralta (1 - 4 - 5) for D89!

PSA: When I wake up on April 5th I’ll either be part of a new school board or I won’t, but what I’m certain of will be knowing that Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board, Juan Peralta for D89 School Board and I ran this election the right way and for the right reasons. We’ve worked to build connections regardless of political beliefs, shine a light on the problems this administration has tried to sweep under the rug, and ask that such basics as Accountability, Transparency & Excellence be brought back to the forefront.

School board elections should be apolitical and hyper-local, away from national level agendas; unfortunately, we’re facing the exact opposite. Below is just a small sample of the hypocrisy that is ridiculous enough to fit in the script of Anchorman 17 or Zoolander 34, but has become standard for IL: “Vote for us to remove politics from the classroom!” ((Paid for by a political party))

To the teachers and parents of D89 - nothing can be fixed overnight, but win or lose, we hope we’ve begun the process of getting your voice back and letting you know that you needn’t be afraid of bullies. And to the copywriter of the mailer below, I’m sure you could have one of your parents hop on to Netscape Navigator and find you a free course on self-awareness.

Time to head to the polls D89 - Vote for Scott Waldbusser for D89 School Board, Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board & Juan Peralta for D89 School Board 1 - 4 - 5!!!

With Spring Bring one week away and early voting beginning TOMORROW now is the time to get out and VOTE!

Local early voting locations include the Glen Ellyn Civic Center, College of DuPage, or Lisle Police Dept (8:30a-7p).

Let's reinvigorate the D89 School Board with new members who are eager for parent involvement, will fix the rift between administration and teachers, and facilitate an environment that fosters educational excellence! Thank you for your support!
Scott Waldbusser for D89 School Board
Juan Peralta for D89 School Board

It’s unfortunate we have to put this post out, but we will not be defined by a small group of people who don’t know us, are unwilling to approach this election with an open mind and are working overtime to protect the status quo.

First and foremost, the current board has had ample time to fix many of the problems plaguing the district that we have brought to light. It’s their tenure and groupthink that has been a large part of the problem and a contagion to the issues the district faces today. We need to hear more substantive questions during board meetings – much like we encourage children to be inquisitive, so should we as adults. “What are our other options?” – “What type of input have the teachers provided?” – “What have other successful districts done in a similar situation?” These aren’t agenda driven questions…they are the bedrock of good decision making.

We’ve also seen deferment to the Superintendent too frequently, even though it’s the boards job to oversee the Superintendent and direction of the district. It has been surprising to finally hear them acknowledge the learning loss, poor communication, declining test scores, and terrible relationship between teachers and admin that we have been discussing for the better part of a year. While that is flattering, it’s too little too late. We need new board members with fresh perspectives, who are committed to excellence in education above all else. If our kids are not proficient in ELA and Math, and our schools are no longer exemplary, yet we continue to raise taxes, the kids are not being served while taxpayers see their homes devalued. Mediocrity is unacceptable, Glen Ellyn families and the larger D89 community deserve better.

This is a non-partisan election and we have not been endorsed or accepted political donations from any political party or political group. Our opponents have been endorsed by the Milton Township Democrats, Indivisible DuPage (which is an extreme and hateful far left organization), and the teachers union. We are proud that our supporters come from both sides of the aisle - they know that with Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board, Juan Peralta for D89 School Board and I as board members, we will be accountable to parents, teachers and taxpayers while our opponents will be beholden to the partisan interest groups who endorsed and/or funded their election. We believe in putting our focus on academics, student growth, and a positive learning experience for all – an extremist, national agenda has no place in a local school board.

Our opponents have made false assertions that we want to ban books, cancel clubs, and numerous other outlandish claims that distract from their failed policies. These are lies - we have never expressed interest in doing any such thing. We have routinely said materials should be age appropriate and parents should be involved in their kid’s education. We are pragmatic commonsense candidates who will make decisions based on those principles alone.

If you are unhappy with the academic performance of the district, going from four exemplary schools to one, the operating by tax referendum, and constant poor communication between admin and parents/community then please vote for us. This is the cornerstone of our campaign, and we will fight for you and your children!

Well deserved - we loved having her for one of our daughters!

Park View Elementary School second-grade teacher Jill Lang is the CCSD 89 Educator of the Year! At the annual Glen Ellyn Community Awards, Lang will be honored for making Glen Ellyn a better place to live, learn, and work.
Lang has known she wanted to be a teacher since she was in elementary school. She and her twin sister would come home from school and “teach” their stuffed animals. Since 1987, Lang has been teaching first or second grade at Park View.
“For me, it’s not really been a job,” Lang said. “It’s been a true love.”
Read more about this amazing teacher: http://bit.ly/3YJQnXq

In D89 we are all part of a community of parents & children, friends & neighbors, young & old, teachers & students. On April 4, some combination of Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board Juan Peralta for D89 School Board Scott Pope for D89 School Board Yannick Koger for D89 School Board Jessica McGee for D89 School Board and Scott Waldbusser for D89 School Board will be elected to the school board. Across Wheaton, Glen Ellyn & Lombard, I’m sure some will be happy, some sad, some with mixed emotions - but on April 5, we will still be a community.

I don’t doubt the love anyone in D89 has for kids, and recognize we all feel strongly about our personal perspectives. It’s possible to retain these convictions without morphing into an “us versus them mentality”, and I’d love it if we could all take a step back and remember that passion for one does not need to equate to outward disdain for another. Do we all really want to go on day after day, week after week, and month after month with so much anger?

Maybe this post resonates, and maybe it does not. Most of my day is spent working, so I often see the anger directed in comments across posts in bulk in the early evening. I doubt our perspectives would change that dramatically, but I have to wonder how much more meaningful these discussions would be if we were sitting down face-to-face.

It may come as a surprise (especially if you don’t know me), but of the two current board members I personally know, I would call them both friends.  They might even be surprised at this, but I would hope that over the coming years for this type of dynamic to be the norm, and not the exception. I’m not asking anyone to sacrifice their beliefs, but it would be wonderful to see the next 30+ days (and beyond) filled with discourse that is intense (and even difficult at times) but respectful.

We teach our children that asking questions is a necessary part of the learning process. As adults, we should follow suit and look to gain the most comprehensive understanding of an issue as possible.

Being inquisitive and intellectually curious about a topic should be encouraged, not scoffed upon.

As the election draws close, I am reminded how fortunate I am to be running this race alongside two men with such character and integrity as Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board and Juan Peralta for D89 School Board. We’re asking tough questions, as anyone in our position should, without resorting to petty, personal attacks. In addressing learning loss and academics for all of our D89 students, our principles are focused around transparency and removing political motives from the school setting.

Perhaps it was expecting too much to assume the larger conversation could focus around the issues at hand, as at the end of the day we’re still one community. Disagreeing with someone doesn’t have to mean they are the “enemy” - debate on key issues should be openly discussed, with all feeling confident that their voices are heard without fear of reprisal. In this light there are several parallels that we hear from teachers and parents around their frustration over concerns going unaddressed. No one has all of the answers for the issues we’re dealing with, but if elected one of the first changes we would make would be a to craft an environment where no one is afraid to speak up.

It’s also been amusing to be personally attacked with vapid, intellectually dishonest statements for bringing up issues we should be debating in good faith. I had no clue that striving for academic improvement & excellence for all of our students and listening to the guidance of teachers in the decision making process was considered having a “national agenda.” It’s sad to see this type of political advocacy in a non-partisan, local election, but as the Turkish saying goes, “the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.“

I encourage all of you to do your homework, connect with us if possible, and even find a little grace in your heart for those you may not see eye to eye with. Whether somebody votes for me or not, I’d still like to consider everyone in D89 a friend, or at worst a partner on moving our kids forward. I would be saddened if for whatever reason I lose any friends during this process, but it will never be because I left them.

www.parents4d89.com

Sample ballots are now available for the upcoming D89 school board election - see below!

Mark your calendars and come connect with me, Juan Peralta for D89 School Board and Kevin McGrane For D89 School Board at our next Meet & Greet on February 25.

The school board is one of the important bodies at the local level, and we’d love to get as much insight from the community as possible, so that we are all working toward the same goal of providing the best education possible for all kids in D89. 

Click below to register, and we look forward to seeing you!

Tap to RSVP to Meet and Greet the candidates You're invited to Meet and Greet the candidates - Click here to RSVP

Make sure your voice is heard!

Families can help build even better schools by filling out the 5Essentials survey. Families are encouraged to take the survey between February 1 and 14 at: https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/ One parent per household may participate. If you have more than one child attending the same school, you can participate in the survey more than once. If you have children at more than one school, you can fill the survey out for each school.