Frank J. Annerino: 2025 candidate for Palatine Township District 15 board

Bio

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

City: Palatine

Age: 56

Occupation: Mechanical engineer

Previous offices held: District 15 board member since 2017

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

I originally ran for the board of education because, as a parent of four children in District 15, I wanted to see a board that was more engaged with the community and responsive to its needs.

Since my election in 2017, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the vice president of the board. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. I have achieved many of the goals I set out to accomplish, including increased student safety, ensuring educational excellence for all our students across our 19 schools, improving the school boundaries for community schooling and efficiency, renewing the district’s aging facilities, and greater engagement with the community.

Looking forward, I’m committed to building on these accomplishments. Academic achievement requires continuous innovation in teaching. It is essential that we provide our students and staff with the resources they need to reach their full potential.

Additionally, being a responsible steward of taxpayers’ investment in our children’s education is a constant guiding principle in my decision-making for the district. For these reasons, I am eager to continue representing our community on the board of education.

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

The school board sets policies that guide the curriculum, ensuring that it aligns with state education standards and mandates, and reflects the district’s educational goals and priorities for the students. When I started on the board of education, the district was using decades-old curriculum and the curriculum was not standardized across the district from school to school.

The board and I worked with the administration to pilot new curriculum options in several grades at different schools. Based on the feedback from teachers, students, and parents the new curriculum was chosen and then rolled out to the whole district. New curriculum is a large investment so it needs to be done in a thoughtful and organized manner.

Lastly, the district needs to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its curriculum regularly by utilizing student assessment and teacher feedback.

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

Since I have been on the board, the district regularly monitors the effectiveness of the curriculum used across all grade levels. This is done consistently through student assessments in the fall and spring, along with feedback from teachers.

The board has directed the district to evaluate new curriculum every 5 to 7 years to determine if improvements can be made with new curriculum. This evaluation is done on a rotating subject basis, such as math, then language arts, then science, so that we are not trying to evaluate multiple subjects at once.

This allows for close attention to be given to the process for each subject and spreads out the cost of new curriculum, ensuring it can be properly budgeted for.

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?

When dealing with policy or curriculum controversies, I believe it is best to be transparent about the facts of the situation and the evaluation process. For people to understand what is happening, they need to be allowed access to all the relevant information regarding the issue at hand.

I believe that a board member must listen to the concerns of their constituents. I take all perspectives into consideration, as there are thoughts and ideas that I may not think of on my own. It is this collaboration with the community that is beneficial to my decision-making process.

Lastly, effective communication with the public is essential. The board must explain to the community the different perspectives involved, what facts and data have been considered, and ultimately why a decision has been made. By doing this, the board builds trust with the community and gains their support to move forward with decisions.

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?

If the Bears decide not to utilize the Arlington Park land for a new stadium, then I think it would be best to use that land for a mixed-use development.

Concepts for this development consist of four main elements: an entertainment district with restaurants and a theater; a business district with retail stores and commercial office space; a residential district with low-density neighborhoods; and parks and open spaces interspersed throughout the entire area.

he impact of the residential area on the school district would need to be taken into consideration before any plan is approved, ensuring that provisions are made for the developer to fund any additional expenses the district may incur to expand its student capacity. This type of development would increase the tax base, generate jobs, and not overburden the district or taxpayers.

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.

My experience on the board of education, and my professional experience, has taught me how to work with others to achieve a common goal. In a group setting my approach is collaborative, respectful, and goal driven. I believe in listening carefully to all perspectives, as every member brings valuable insights and experiences to the table.

When working with others, I strive to create an open environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinions, concerns, and ideas. By fostering this kind of environment, we can collectively identify the most important issues and explore multiple approaches to find the best solutions.

I also believe in the importance of compromise. If a proposal doesn’t have unanimous support, I work to find middle ground that addresses the core issues while meeting the needs of most stakeholders. My style of reaching an agreement involves seeking common ground while ensuring that each viewpoint is considered. I am focused on data driven decision making and ensuring that the needs of the community and the students are at the center of the policy decisions.

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.

It is beneficial to have employees from the community who have a vested interest in seeing their local school district and children succeed. The district also reaches out to teaching students at Illinois universities to offer them student-teaching positions. This helps develop a pipeline of local talent to refresh our teaching staff as veteran teachers retire.

Exceptional staff is paramount in providing our students with a great education. Therefore, the district always strives to hire the best candidates, regardless of their race, color, sex, religion, or age. I believe the district does a good job of this and will continue to do so in the future.

Inclusive education means the district provides services that address a range of our students’ needs, including special education and health services.

The district has many support structures to assist students who come from other countries and have English as a second language. These supports help our students continue learning in all subjects while they are acquiring English language skills. Helping students adapt to a new culture or understand another student’s culture brings the student body closer together as a unified community.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

As an engineer and business consultant, I have had to make decisions based on data while also considering the trade-offs between time, money, and resources. My problem-solving skills in technical areas also translate into solving issues that come before the board. This balance is something I bring to the board to complement the talents of the other members.

A strong board consists of individuals with diverse areas of expertise and perspectives. My years of experience as a board member provide me with a deeper understanding of the district, allowing me to contribute more informed insights and ask pertinent questions, which leads to well-informed decisions. Ultimately, my experience helps to ensure better governance and outcomes for the district.

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

Improving our students’ academic achievement requires continuous innovation in teaching. Integrating artificial intelligence into education can be a powerful tool to enhance learning, but it must be done thoughtfully to ensure it does not hinder students’ critical thinking. Several strategies to achieve this include: AI can support students by providing personalized learning experiences, but not replace essential hands-on activities, discussions, or problem-solving exercises.

AI tools should encourage active engagement. For instance, AI-based assignments can present challenges that require students to think critically and solve problems. The AI can offer hints or feedback, but the ultimate solution comes from the student’s reasoning and effort.

Educators can incorporate lessons that teach students how AI works and its limitations. This can be done through discussions about how AI makes decisions, and how it can be biased. Understanding AI empowers students to use it effectively and critically evaluate its suggestions.

By integrating AI in a balanced and thoughtful way, we can enhance students’ learning experiences while ensuring that their critical thinking skills are nurtured.