Bill Clevenger for School Board 2023

Goals

• Address issues such as "declining enrollment, flat to declining community EAV (Equalized Assessed Value), and escalating costs," and budget issues that may emerge after the "COVID related budget surplus"
• "The School Board itself needs to continually asses its own effectiveness and its relationship with District administration and staff."
• "Establish a collaborative working relationship with the superintendent."
• "The board should set strategic direction and goals, focus on student achievement and associated curriculum, monitor district climate and culture, ensure a safe education setting for students, faculty, staff and community, engage the community, ensure fiscal accountability and evaluate district/superintendent results."
• Look at extracurricular activites and bring back "strong arts programs" and "strong athletic programs."
• Stability of district leadership
• "Expect staff to perform at high levels throughout our community."
• He says we need to focus on "writing, basic math, [and] reading." He says "reading is the basis of all; if you can't read by 4th grade, your chances of success in any other subject are greatly, greatly diminished."

Current Roles / Jobs

• School Board Member - He was appointed on September 12th, 2022 to fill a vacancy.

Past roles / Jobs

• Executive Director of Decatur Park District from March 1988 to September 2021

Endorsed By

• Central Illinois PAC
• Decatur Education Association, SEIU 73, and Decatur Educational Support Personnel Association (DESPA)
• Decatur Labor & Trades Assembly
• According to Bill, he is also endorsed by Decatur's Building Trades Union and 'The DPS Chalkboard'. Due to time constraints, we have not verified these.

Personal History / Info

• Age 70
• Wife named Candi, who "recently finished her thirty-year career as CEO of Heritage Behavioral Health Center"
• Lived in Decatur for 35 years
• four sons graduated from MacArthur High School
• Retired in September 2021
• "Several members of my family were teachers and school administrators."

Statements / Quotes

• He says "Mayor, economic development again can do a great job, but we have to have a workforce that can enter those businesses and make those businesses successful in Decatur, Illinois."
• Bill says "district 61 students are absolutely the future of our workforce, and we have to treat it as such."
• When asked about LGBTQIA+ issues & black history, Bill said board members need to "vote our own conscience," as well as "rely on our professional staff in the school system to make recomendations for the board to consider."
• "There's gotta be prevention [of violence], and there has to be consequences on the other end as well."
• Bill says there are "several different avenues, not one size fits all," and that in life "there are consequences," and that both students and teachers need to feel safe at school.
• For Bill Clevenger, "Academic achievement is absolutely a laser focus," with a particular eye on Kindergarden through 3rd grade. He says if you can't read by 3rd grade, "you are headed toward a lifetime of problems, and that's unnacceptable in my book."
• Clevenger wants to improve safety & security in the schools, and says the recent hire of Valdimir Talley is a step forward.
• "As the district emerges from the COVID related budget surplus, the Board will be forced to address issues such as declining enrollment, flat to declining community EAV, and escalating costs, to highlight a few issues. One should remember that the District is approximately 50% of the local property tax bill, and that is dependent on community stability and/or growth."
• "The School Board itself needs to continually asses its own effectiveness and its relationship with District administration and staff. Organizational stability is of paramount importance."
• "Our schools should be a place where all students, faculty, and staff feel safe and secure. Students and teachers will perform better and have improved mental wellness in this environment."
• "The District faces a significant number of academic achievement issues today but none more important than the basic academic achievement at the elementary level - particularly at the K-3 grade level." He says when K-3 students don't learn basic reading and math, they "are hindered for the rest of their school career and beyond"
• "I do not bring a specific agenda or single interest. Rather, I bring a proven voice of reason and steady handed organizational leadership. With my retirement, I now have time to use my decades of successful management and governing experience by getting involved and helping reestablish community trust and confidence in a school system that is absolutely essential for our community to grow and thrive."
• "I am the only candidate who has actual executive-level experience and understanding of “open meetings” and “FOIA” (Freedom of Information Act)".
• "The question of transparency is reflected in my three decades of community leadership. During my career as executive director of the park district, I was actively engaged and lead dozens of community input/community engagement opportunities. The park board and I collaborated to provide public input opportunities for every major project we initiated. Throughout the decades, public input and transparency has been a major part of my operating philosophy."
• "The board has one employee and as such should establish a collaborative working relationship with the superintendent."
• "The board should set strategic direction and goals, focus on student achievement and associated curriculum, monitor district climate and culture, ensure a safe education setting for students, faculty, staff and community, engage the community, ensure fiscal accountability and evaluate district/superintendent results."
• He says he has worked with taxes & budgets and that he has a strong background in financial accountability.

Sources

• School Board Forum
• Bill Clevenger's Platform
• Herald & Review 'Meet The Candidates'