Alan Brinkmeier: Candidate for Elmhurst Unit District 205 School Board

Campaign Information
www.alan4district205.com
albrinkmeier12@gmail.com
 
Family: Wife, Gail; daughter, Alex, 21, graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University and planning to attend law school in the fall; and daughter, Perri, 16, junior at York High School

Education:

• Elmhurst College, 1976 (high honors) B.A.
• DePaul University College of Law, 1984 (honors), J.D. 

Occupation: Attorney, Brinkmeier Law Group LLC

Why are you seeking office?

I think that District 205 needs another proven leader. Listening to the residents, I see these comments with great frequency.

I’ve been an Elmhurst resident for more than 40 years. Knowing you and the things you hold important for our schools and the needs of our community are key parts of who I am. I promise to bring integrity with a strong dose of ethical leadership to tackle the planning necessary to set priorities and reflect the inspiring character of our citizens and students.

As a community leader for a couple decades, I have come to understand your concerns. I think that District 205 needs another proven leader to have people and all units of local government working together. I have a successful record of bringing people together and creating consensus. I have been a lifelong advocate for solutions that reflect the will and creativity of the larger group, not just a few.

What will be your top priority if elected?

I will encourage and lead toward increased communication between parents, teachers, students and administrators. When we increase the communication we can increase the collaboration and cooperation. It begins with meaningful listening.

And, in our community, it is important for schools to collaborate with organizations that already have operations in place. Examples include (but are not limited to) the City of Elmhurst, Elmhurst Park District, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst Public Library, YMCA and on and on. Working to plan together is a key. In Elmhurst we can do better. I will lead toward better communication and better planning.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

School board members are in important community positions and make the decisions that affect students and school district employees on a daily basis. In listening to the public, I answer this way:

Those candidates that are best known among the leaders of the various other organizations around our city can get the most done. I am such a candidate. I have worked with community leaders for decades in Elmhurst. When acting as your School Board member, I’ll realize the role that board members assume in ensuring every student has the basic right to great public school. Effective School Board members understand the important role that lobbying, working together and leadership plays in protecting and promoting our schools. When acting as your School Board member, I’ll understand the role in supporting school staff and taking the time to understand the issues facing those working in the schools every day. As your School Board member I’ll understand that a safe school and supportive environment need to be in place for the staff to be able to facilitate high-level student learning.

School Board members are taking on the very large task of developing a long-term, sustainable financial plan that potentially could change the way the school district is structured. What ideas do you have to help get the district to long-term financial sustainability?

All such initiatives will not work if they come from the top down. That is not how government works best.

How do you feel about a shift to a three-tier bus schedule that would result in a $300,000 savings, but also a change in school start times?

After going around the community these last six weeks, this has been the number one topic of discussion, by far. After listening to so many citizens on the topic, and after digging in and doing some research on this myself, I oppose this measure because it does not solve as many problems as it creates. I have heard from almost 400 citizens (and have scheduled to hear many more) and by far the outcry is against this, against how the plan was announced, against the method of obtaining citizen input on the topic and against the concept that is not supported by studies concerning student achievement. Attempting to install such a program in the face of such opposition is not what makes sense.

Elmhurst values community schools. I hear this all the time. I see that the Harris Interactive Poll seems to indicate that as well. Our leaders must listen to the public we represent. Truly listen. I will say it again. Our leader must truly listen to the public we represent.

A recent Harris poll indicates teacher dissatisfaction in the areas of their involvement with decision-making and their view of the School Board and administration. What do you see as the cause for this, and what would you do to improve morale among teachers?

Teachers tell me that they are not listened to nor are they being heard. I have met with dozens and plan over the next four weeks to meet with and listen to dozens more. I hear the same thing time and again. And, I am hearing this from professional teachers I have known in Elmhurst, some of them for nearing 20 years.

Since I announced my campaign, I have gotten calls, emails and text messages on this with some regularity.

If a key group involved in the teaching of our students feels alienated, the whole educational approach is soured. We are fortunate that we have some highly skilled and experienced teachers in our district. We need to create an environment that is conducive to retaining and attracting those exact kinds of teachers. To do this we need our school leaders to promote a culture of listening along with having adequate materials to teach our children. I am not talking about throwing money at the matter. I am talking about listening, involving the thinkers and then planning a path to betterment.

Successful teaching is not done in a vacuum. Teachers need parent reinforcement to help in teaching our children. If the teacher is not supported, the morale at our schools will flat line. Our Elmhurst parents that are engaged in the schools and in the teaching process provide the best example. How can we do the best for our students if the support needed to our teachers is not available? We can’t do the best without it. We must give the teachers solid support, an open mind and an attentive ear to allow them to give our public school children a better education.

Along with citizens here I believe in preparing the next generation of leaders. I am campaigning for School Board because I am concerned about the educational success of students in the district. The success of the schools impacts all Elmhurst property owners in a big way.

I’ve heard from you that the morale among a group important to our children’s success—our teachers—could and should be better. I want to listen to you to ensure our students obtain the best education possible to prepare them for the future.

A goal has been to move students to digital textbooks and one-to-one computing. This will likely require more training for teachers, as well. How much of a priority is this?

The goal for using digital textbooks  as a replacement for printed textbooks and one-to-one computing are good ones that I support, and I understand it is not currently financially practical for many schools in our School District.

Something I consider about the justification to move from printed text books is that it somehow equates the superiority of students’ performance in educational outcomes to their adoption of digital learning environments. That seems overly simplistic and flawed.  Why focus only on the eBook? I think there may be many other factors that influence performance. The most obvious one would be the cultural emphasis on that goal of using technology in all classroom teaching.

We have hired a large number of teachers based on different skills than those necessary to go to full, across-the-curriculum eBooks/digital textbooks and one-on-one computing approach. Until our culture embraces this digital textbook initiative fully, we stand to alienate a key constituency for our district schools—the teachers. We cannot alienate such an important voice for our schools, so we need to approach this question inclusively.

This, like every other initiative, has to be discussed in the larger community here in our district relative to funding. To get everyone involved in the process is the better way to go in having broad support for such a plan. Funding for such a broad-reaching initiative as a districtwide move to digital textbooks and one-to-one computing needs to be a public dialogue—held in public, not behind closed doors. It won't work if mandated from the top down. Computing and digital textbooks as an idea needs to include a sincere dialogue from the citizen level up to the administration. That is how government works best in my opinion.

What other message do you want to get across to Elmhurst voters?

School Board members are charged, by law, with providing quality education for the youth of our community. I will work for the best interests of all students and all citizens. I promise you my constant effort and a strong commitment as shown in my lifetime of volunteering and serving other people.

I am actively involved with numerous community organizations and activities. As you may know, I have been volunteering in many different avenues in Elmhurst for many years, and it has been very rewarding. I am a long-time trustee at Elmhurst College, long-time commissioner for the City of Elmhurst, president of Elmhurst Swim Team, and in the past have volunteered with the YMCA, EBL, Team Elmhurst Soccer on its Board of Directors, AYSO, the Library, Vote Yes Twice Referendum, District 205 Facilities and Resource Needs Committee, Edison PTA, on the board of the York Athletic Boosters, York Parent Teacher Student Association as Treasurer, Edison School Music Parent, and many more.

As your School Board member, I will bring my leadership and integrity to the board.

I am and have been an advocate for students. I want to hear from you parents and your students' teachers. I will provide leadership toward solutions for educational issues that promote excellence in our schools.

I would like to know what you think of “Your Agenda,” which if elected I will bring by my actions to the School Board. I am going to urge that the School Board listen and act on your suggestions and concerns.

Please feel free to contact me, albrinkmeier12@gmail.com.