Eric Bachmann: 2025 candidate for Palatine Township District 15 board

Bio

Office sought: Palatine Township District 15 board (Vote for 4)

City: Palatine

Age: 58

Occupation: Retired middle school/elementary band director

Previous offices held: None

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I love District 15 and living in Palatine! We have raised our five children in this district for the past 18 years and I am committed to giving all students the remarkable opportunities that my kids had. I am running to give back to the community and to ensure that all kids have a quality education moving forward.

What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring the curriculum?

The school board is responsible for approving the curriculum and setting the district’s academic standards. This is done with collaboration and input from teachers, students and families.

The board should monitor the curriculum to ensure that annual progress is being made, achievement gaps are closing, and the public is informed about student progress.

The board should be in constant communication to make sure that students and teachers have the resources they need that is in the best interest of all students.

Are there any curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?

Maintaining transparency and communication about test scores and continuing to monitor the current curriculum to make sure that teachers have the resources they need and that the students are achieving their best.

How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents — even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?

My role as a board member would be to communicate and listen to all voices regarding a controversial situation. I would remain true to my beliefs and collaborate with other board members to develop a solution that benefits those involved.

If the Bears succeed in developing a new stadium in Chicago instead of Arlington Heights, what type of development would you want to see on the Arlington Park property? How would you see that benefiting the community?

I would like to see a plan that benefits the entire community’s potential needs (education, housing, commercial development, green space) and not just large upscale shopping.

Having the Bears move to the suburbs would be amazing and I know that the local school districts and governments have been in discussions with the Bears to ensure that it benefits not only a newer population, but more importantly the people already living in the area.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions for your school board.

The only way to get things done is through open communication and collaboration. As a staff member in my school district, I worked with other teachers to make sure that students were able to achieve their best.

As a band director, each individual's contribution affected the whole performance and it was my job to guide students along the way and to help them achieve their full potential.

As decisions arise on the board, it will require all of us to listen and work together for the good of the students and staff. I have strong communication skills and I am confident that I will be able to be an effective board member by listening to different viewpoints to help determine an equitable outcome.

What is your assessment of the school district's diversity and equity efforts? Do you support the continuation or enhancement of such programs, or would you rather see them diminished. Please explain your reasoning.

This is a very personal question for me. I believe the district has made good progress in regards to diversity and equity, but we still have lots of work to do to ensure that all students are treated fairly and given equitable resources that they need to be successful.

This includes hiring more diverse staff (age ranges, race, genders) as well as providing more materials from diverse authors and a curriculum that takes into account many different perspectives.

We have a multiracial family (our African American twins were adopted from foster care and have special needs) as well as a daughter who is on the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) caseload.

It is imperative, as I have seen in my own children’s education, that we not only continue these programs, but further enhance and refine them to meet the needs so that they mirror our diverse district population.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I bring a unique perspective to the board as both a retired educator and a longtime District 15 parent and this is what sets me apart!

I will use my strong teaching background and communication skills having worked with kids and families from many different backgrounds, abilities, ages, ethnicities and perspectives to help all kids learn.

I will continue to promote the high standards of the district to help every student achieve their own level of success. I will promote communication between all members of the District 15 community (teachers, staff, parents and the board). We will be successful when we all band together!

What’s one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?

I would like to see the district be a place that attracts top talent not only in the classroom, but in all areas of employment. This includes bus drivers, educational support personnel, program assistants and nurses as well as hiring quality teachers. Some positions in our district are seen as places to start, but not stay long term.

I want to work to develop a plan to have District 15 (which is the second largest elementary district in the state behind CPS) become a destination and not a “stepping stone” district for all positions.