Advocacy Angle: Advocacy in Action
By Barbara Hobrock
This year, I have been able to witness advocacy in action from several of IASB’s member boards. Advocacy can mean a lot of different things to people and each of these districts were given unique opportunities to advocate for their districts. They not only stepped up to the challenge, but they became an example we can all learn from.
Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent of Education, has been touring schools throughout Illinois to keep in touch with students and emphasize all the positive initiatives and achievements happening in schools. In February, Sanders visited Beardstown CUSD 15, which serves approximately 1,400 PK-12 students in a small, rural farming community. When Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) was enacted in 2017, Beardstown CUSD 15’s funding adequacy was 52.5%. This means that the district was only receiving approximately half of what it takes to adequately provide for the students. The major employer in Beardstown is JBS Foods, a meat processing plant, which has brought incredible diversity to the school district, but has also brought challenges in supporting the 18 languages spoken from 30 countries of origin. Being funded at only 52.5%, Beardstown CUSD 15 has been doing amazing things with very little.
During Sander’s visit, three school board members joined the tour. Board President Jimmy Hymes, Vice President Amy Sommers, and Secretary Brenda Algandar remained “in the balcony” and watched Superintendent Brent O’Daniell, Language Acquisition Administrator Tammee Petersen, and several proud students show off their district’s new early childhood renovation. EBF dollars aided in the construction allowing the preschool to be brought to the elementary school instead of being isolated across town. The tour continued to the high school where students stressed the family-like atmosphere, unity among diversity, and the obvious pride they have not only for their school, but for their community.
What filled me with the most pride during this historic visit was witnessing the school board members’ advocacy. As a former school board vice-president of Beardstown CUSD 15, I understand the all-too-common perception that small-town voices often go unheard, and that we must tackle challenges on our own. Board members changed that stigma when they ended the day talking to Sanders about their challenges and successes over the years.
The first step in advocacy is showing up. By simply being present and supporting your students and staff, you demonstrate your commitment to their success.
The second step is speaking up. As the collective voice of the entire district, conveying the message to higher authorities validates all the hard work.
The third step is leveling up. Despite the challenges of balancing jobs, families, and personal lives, the board members elevated their advocacy efforts because it is crucially important. Thank you to Beardstown CUSD 15 for including me in this tour to witness advocacy in action!
Another example of advocacy in action was from the Homewood School District 153 board and superintendent. Voters in the district overwhelmingly, with 71% of the vote, approved a tax increase by referendum in November 2022 to support the growing needs of the district. Due to an unprecedented drop in equalized assessed value (EAV), the referendum only generated a fraction of the dollars voters thought they were approving. The board reached out to Representative Will Davis to explain the predicament and he was happy to champion the initiative. Therefore, HB 4284 was filed and would allow the district to recoup the funds.
The bill moved through the House and somewhat stalled in the Senate. With deadlines looming and $1.7 million at stake, the school board and superintendent took action to advocate not only for their district, but for the voters in the community. Board President Shelly Marks, Vice President Alex Bosch, and Superintendent Scott McAlister reached out to their legislators, contacted IASB and IASA for information, and made the trek to Springfield to attend the Senate Education Committee hearing where the bill would be called. They were ready with all the pertinent information in the event they would testify, and they met with Senator Napoleon Harris III, the Senate sponsor of the bill, to ensure his questions were answered. I was honored to explain to the board the many different things that could happen in committee work, and the board members were prepared to do what it took to make sure their constituents’ voices were heard. The bill was approved on an agreed bill list (meaning it was approved at once with other bills that were in the committee) and they then had to wait for floor action to ensure it passed the Senate.
That was only one mountain to climb to ensure success. Not only did the bill have to pass the Senate, but it also then had to be signed by the Governor by early June. Typically, bills need to be sent to the Governor within 30 days of passing both chambers and then the Governor has 60 days from receipt to sign the bill or veto it. This timeline simply would not work in this case. Once the bill passed the Senate, the sponsor of the originating chamber, Representative Davis, must send it to the Governor. Marks was able to contact Davis and make him aware of the looming deadline in the hopes of expediting the bill. The full board prepared a letter to the Governor expressing the same concerns. Building relationships with their legislators paid off and HB 4284 was signed into law on May 28, 2024.
The Homewood School District 153 school board worked with the superintendent, legislators, and IASB to advocate not only for the district, but for the voters.