Candidates for Galesburg City Council and District 205 School Board participated in a Galesburg Candidate Forum on March 14 in Hegg Performing Arts Center at Galesburg High School. The event was co-sponsored by WGIL and Tri States Public Radio.
The 2023 consolidated election is Tuesday, April 4.
Incumbents Tianna Cervantez and Courtney Rodriguez are running for re-elecction for seats within Galesburg and are facing challenger Jake Taylor. Incumbent Rodney Phelps is running for re-election for a seat representing townships outside Galesburg and is facing challenger David Sharp.
Cervantez, Rodriguez and Sharp participated in the forum. Both Phelps and Taylor were unable to attend.
Moderators were Jay Redfern, content director at WGIL, and Jane Carlson, regional reporter for Tri States Public Radio.
Following is audio from the school board forum:
Opening comments
The role of a school board member
QUESTION 1: What is the role of a school board member? What do you see as the most important skill or attribute for serving on the board?
School safety and security
QUESTION 2: Last fall, District 205 hosted a community town hall to discuss rising concerns over student behavior and safety. Do you feel student behavior is an issue in Galesburg schools, and what ideas to you have that could improve the culture and sense of security for students and faculty?
Graduation rates and school attendance
QUESTION 3: Do you have concerns over graduation rates and issues with student attendance? Has this worsened as a result of the pandemic? If so, what can be done to improve those statistics?
School Board transparency
QUESTION 4: District 205 currently does not provide an option for citizens to remotely watch monthly school board meetings. In the interest of transparency, do you think it’s important for the meetings to be live-streamed? Why or why not?
Facilities improvements and future priorities
QUESTION 5: District 205 has spent millions of dollars to upgrade and renovate facilities. How is this improving education? If elected, what kind of expenditures would you prioritize moving forward?
Closing comments
LISTEN: Hear from the candidates: Galesburg City Council
