State Journal Register Interviews School Board Candidates

Below are the candidates' answers to a State Journal-Register questionnaire. In some cases, answers have been edited for length.

District 186 has long been criticized for its teaching force not being reflective of the district. According to the 2023-24 Illinois Report Card, while Blacks make up 45.1% of the student population, only 6.4% of its teachers are Black. How can the district better recruit and maintain minority teachers?

Barnett: Retention and recruitment of teachers of color go hand in hand. We cannot attract more diverse educators if we fail to retain those already hired. It’s crucial to review past challenges these teachers faced and how they were addressed. These numbers highlight a systemic issue that requires effort at more than the district level alone. Recruiting teachers also means integrating them into the broader community. Are racial disparities in other professions just as stark? A divided community cannot grow, and inclusion is essential.

From schools to workplaces, we must foster a welcoming, uplifting environment. Educators deserve daily appreciation for shaping future leaders. The district has worked to diversify staff, connecting with HBCUs to expand outreach. Now, the entire community—schools, businesses, and residents—must do its part to make Springfield more inclusive. A stronger, more united city benefits everyone, and it starts with ensuring all members feel valued and supported.

The Springfield Education Association president said the district's performance on the 2023-24 Illinois Report Card was "a gut check," adding that the disparities between the three public high schools and inequity of elementary schools continued to be "a concern" of education unions. As a board member, what would you suggest in working towards solutions with district and other partners?

Barnett: I wanted to examine the numbers deemed “gut-wrenching” because, while public education needs support, it’s important to see if any progress has been overlooked. Our district isn’t perfect, but dismissing it entirely misses both successes worth celebrating and areas needing attention.

I analyzed Freshman on Target (FOT) and four-year graduation rates to assess student progress pre and post high school. All three high schools improved FOT numbers leading up to 2020. While 2021 saw declines due to the pandemic, recovery followed. Southeast’s FOT rate jumped 20% from 2021-22, and Lanphier’s increased by 14.3%, with an additional 6-point gain in 2022. Springfield High’s FOT dipped in 2021 and has risen just 1.3% since. However, its graduation rate is 1% higher than in 2019. Lanphier’s graduation rate grew 7% since 2019, including a 12% jump from 2023-24. Southeast saw a 9% decline since 2019 but a 10% increase from 2023-24.

These numbers reflect hard work, but sustained growth requires equity across elementary schools, meeting each school’s needs, and uplifting teachers and students daily.

While Illinois is at the lower end of federal funding for schools, the proposed dismantling by the Trump Administration of the Department of Education could, at the very least, affect students from low-income families and students with disabilities as well as make college financial aid harder to get. What are your views of the proposal and its implications for the district?

Barnett: Dismantling the Department of Education would have severe consequences, many of which go unnoticed by those who don’t directly rely on federally funded programs. Many supporters of this idea misunderstand its role, often citing poor test scores as justification. However, the department does not set curriculums—school boards do. Eliminating its funding would strip essential programs for students with disabilities, leaving many without the resources they need.

Some assume Illinois would remain unaffected, but 17 states are currently suing to end Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires schools to support students with 504 plans. If successful, states would bear the financial burden, affecting taxpayers. Illinois could enact protections, but it would come at a significant cost. In our district alone, 192 students could be impacted.

If we want to improve test scores, reading, and math, the solution isn’t to dismantle the Department of Education—it’s to invest more in schools, not force them to operate with fewer resources while neglecting students who need the most help.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788: sspearie@sj-r.com: X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

Link to full article found here.