Candidates speak at Tea Party Patriots’ Candidate Forum — School board

The Chillicothe Tea Party Patriots provided an opportunity for its members and the public to listen March 23 to both the aldermanic candidates for the Chillicothe City Council and the board of trustees for Illinois Valley Central District 321.

Moderated by Jim Wright, the forum allowed the candidates to give an opening statement and then answer any questions.

Illinois Valley Central District 321

Five men are running for three seats on the Illinois Valley Central District 321 Board of Trustees.

Incumbents Mike Denzer and Greg Johnson are seeking re-election to their seats. Board president Jim Hollenback is not seeking re-election.

Joining Denzer and Johnson are retired IVC High School social studies teacher Steve Garrison, 2009 IVC High School graduate Garrett Hurd and retired Superintendent Dr. Dave Kinney. Hurd was not at the forum.

Denzer began by saying the people he tries to keep in mind while serving since 1999 as a school board member saying they need to “provide a strong educational background for all of our students.” They may choose to attend a four-year college, a trade school or enter the work force — or “whatever path they choose.” He also said he tries to keep in mind both the citizens who have students in school, and those who do not.

His three sons all graduated from IVCHS and were prepared to go to a four-year college, he said.

He also is a volunteer fireman, serving as an assistant fire chief since 1994, and is a financial advisor with Edward Jones.

From an incumbent to a newcomer, Garrison told the audience this is his first time running for office.

He grew up in the Chicago area and has been an educator for 38 years. Starting with teaching, he moved into administration in the 1980s in southern Illinois.

After delivering his youngest daughter in a car, he and his wife decided they wanted to move someplace closer to “civilization,” so they moved to Chillicothe, where he was IVCHS principal from 1990 to 1994.

Saying he really missed teaching, he headed back to the classroom.

“While an educator, the biggest thing I could do is prepare the students for whatever is beyond Chillicothe,” Garrison said about those who went on to college, enlisted in the military, got married or wherever they went in the future.

He was quick to note that while he said he feels he prepared students well, that is all in the past as he is retired now. He does work part-time at Bradley University overseeing student teachers.

“My decisions would be as they always have been, for the kids of the community,” said Garrison, who also coached.

Also retired but working at Peoria District 150 as the interim comptroller-treasurer since August, Dr. Dave Kinney said he was an employee of IVC District 321 for 36 years — teaching in Mossville and the last 23 years in administration, with 17 years in the central office.

His last five years were as IVC superintendent, retiring in 2009. “I can tell you I told a lot of people as I finished those five years, I had the greatest job in the state of Illinois because I don’t think there is any community, or any group of parents or any staff that works harder than those here at IVC.”

With that said, he said he is enjoying and getting new experiences through his work with District 150.

He also said he cannot say enough about what school board members do, how their job can be thankless and he said he has confidence that whether he is elected or not, the board will be in “good hands.”

“Like Mr. Garrison, I think it’s time I give back,” said Kinney.

Incumbent Greg Johnson said he grew up in Monmouth and has lived in Chillicothe for 11 years.

Saying he has been invested in the community early on, he seeks his third term on the board.

He said he brings to the table four to five years of being the finance committee chairman for the board and helping maneuver through the economic times, attributing the school’s financial security to the entire board.

He currently has two students in IVC schools and one who graduated last year.

“I want the best for my kids. I want the best for our kids,” said Johnson.

He also pointed to what Denzer said about allocating funds not only for today but for the district’s future.

A question about students knowing history prompted Garrison to talk about Newsweek’s story about how 38 percent of people given a civics test passed it.

He said beyond history, “I really think our kids need to come out of school being thinkers,” adding that “what makes an educated citizen is the ability to think.”

Denzer added he feels, in general, society does not have high enough expectations of students.

“One of our obligations we have as a board and a school district is to make sure we hold our students to the highest expectations because when you’re out in the world you don’t get graded on a curve anymore.”

Underfunded teacher pensions also were discussed.

Kinney said the state legislature is looking into a variety of options, such as a self-funded 401k plan or have school districts pay more to make up the under-funding for the last 45 years.

State Sen. John Cullerton’s idea is to raise $1 billion through the school districts for a few years until the state can catch up, Kinney said. To easily explain what IVC’s portion would be, he told the audience to drop three zeroes from the number — meaning the district would need to pay $1 million under the plan.

He said it is an issue that all school districts will face in the future.  

Mayor Troy Childers Sr. asked how the IVC District 321 compares to Dunlap District 323, according to the candidates.

Garrison said he thought it was perception, and that IVC needs to bridge the gap between the students who do well and do not do well.
More motivation may be needed, and he said it’s a “best kept secret that should be kept.”

Johnson said he thought Dunlap is the “hot market” right now. Comparing each other, he said IVC’s education is on par, socioeconomic influences it, and IVC athletics and music beat Dunlap’s. He said IVC is a close second.

“They’ve definitely created a market niche,” said Kinney. He also said IVC has set themselves up facility wise for future growth.

Denzer added that with thousands of cars driving by Mossville Grade School, he fears that the school’s lack of curb appeal could negatively impact how people think of the district. He said a facility upgrade, which would be done not just for aesthetics but to enhance student’s learning, could promote greater visibility for the district.

Childers chimed in that the city could work with the school district on some sort of a marketing plan.