Meet La’Mont Raymond Williams, candidate for the Chicago school board’s 9th District

Academics

About 31% of Chicago Public Schools elementary students are meeting state standards in reading, and 19% are meeting math standards. How would you approach growing reading and math achievement?^*
We must implement a holistic approach focusing on the learning of foundational elements for math and reading. This will require more resourcing and development of an effective curriculum for early elementary education. I propose working with leading education experts from districts achieving higher levels of proficiency in math and reading. From this collaboration, I propose we work to implement those, or similar policies and programs suited for Chicago, to improve our students’ proficiency. We also need to consider and address our learners. Outside factors such as home life, nutrition and mental health play a significant role in a student’s ability to learn and focus. We cannot expect our students to be at their best when they face these challenges daily. CPS allocates resources to addressing these issues and I propose continued support and expansion in these programs where possible.

Do you support standardized testing more than once a year?
No.

Do you support requiring all schools to select from a certain curriculum authorized by the board of education?
Yes. I want our students to have the most robust curriculum possible. My academic successes as a CPS alum directly correspond to the breadth of curriculum offered. I want to ensure the baseline of all CPS curriculums increases in breadth and depth of subjects.

Chicago Public Schools has consistently fallen short when it comes to serving students with disabilities. What would you do to improve special education?
I propose advocating for more resources under the remaining funds from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). I propose advocating and working with our congressional and state leaders to receive more funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). CPS currently receives funding through these federal acts but we can receive and need more. As a coach, mentor and uncle to students who have IEPs [Individualized Education Program] and special needs, it is imperative these students receive the utmost support and dedicated minutes possible so as not to create an aggregate and cumulative effect due to lack of dedicated minutes. I will zealously advocate for our students, especially our students with special needs, IEPs and 504 plans.

CPS finances

In recent years, Chicago’s Board of Education has consistently raised the property tax levy to the maximum allowed by state law every year. Should the board continue to raise the levy to the maximum?
No. Property taxation is a huge issue in Chicago. We cannot continue to simply pass the burden on taxpayers without genuinely pursuing other revenue possibilities. We must work with our city, county, state and federal elected officials to better fund CPS while exploring revenue generating opportunities with current CPS assets. I have several ideas to address this issue.

Do you think CPS needs more funding, or do you think the school district’s budget is bloated? How would you balance the CPS budget?^*
The CPS budget is bloated in areas but contains opportunities to alleviate this bloat from the budget to relieve the burden on taxpayers, while not harming our students or the district. However, both the state and federal government can and should do more to support the third largest public school district in the country. I intend to pursue both local and non-local solutions. CPS’ Board must look at how it allocates funding throughout CPS for the entire district. CPS allocates funds well in some areas, but there are opportunities for efficiency which helps our suffering taxpayers. I propose an audit and review of all independent third-party contracts for goods and services to make sure we do not pay for redundant services. I propose liquidating CPS assets we no longer use but still continue to use taxpayer money to maintain, including buildings CPS has not used in over a decade or more.

School choice

Do you support the current board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools and shift away from the current system of school choice with selective enrollment, magnet and charter schools?
No. I do not believe this should be a binary, “either/or” choice for parents. I believe in a “both/and” approach to improving the quality of our neighborhood schools and maintaining our magnet school, etc. My approach will require the CPS Board and the city to truly look at the disparity in the education system and address it from both a policy and funding position.

Given the board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools, how would you balance supporting those schools without undermining the city’s selective enrollment schools and other specialized programs?^*
I do not propose limiting parents’ options to choose what is best for their children. CPS can and must improve our neighborhood schools by raising the acceptable standard, while sustaining selective enrollment schools. This is a “both/and” situation. This will be difficult but worthwhile for our students. Difficulty will not stop me from pursuing what is right. My family lived the disparity within CPS through my brother’s and my journey through CPS. I went to Ogden and Lincoln Park for the IB programs, and my brother attended neighborhood schools. The difference was the breadth and depth of curriculum, access to arts and extracurricular activities. We can raise the standard utilizing the evidence-based funding model while tailoring our funding process as we see data trends through this funding model. Improving the neighborhood school will not take away from our selective enrollment schools and programs when I am on the board.

The first charter school opened in Chicago in 1997 and these privately run, publicly funded schools grew in number throughout the 2000s. Today, 54,000 Chicago Public Schools students, or about 17%, attend charters and contract schools. Do you support having charter schools in CPS as an option for students?
Yes.

Independence

If elected, how will you maintain your independence from the mayor’s office, the Chicago Teachers Union or other powerful forces shaping the school system?^*
I will maintain independence by listening to the voters who elected me. I will hold frequent and consistent town halls and community meetings to hear directly from the community. I will invite elected officials and any stakeholders to the meetings so they too can hear what the students, families and community of the 9th District needs them to hear. I prioritize and will continue to prioritize full transparency in any and all votes I cast, while keeping an open door policy to any CPS student, parent, teacher, employee or concerned citizen to come talk with me.

Police in schools

Do you support having sworn Chicago Police Department officers stationed in schools?
No.

Busing and facilities

Last year, in an effort to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities as required by state and federal law, CPS canceled busing for general education students who attend selective enrollment and magnet schools and hasn’t found a solution to reinstate that service. Do you support busing for general education students?
Yes. Children should not have to worry about how and if they can get to school. Our students face many problems and transportation should not be one of those problems students face.

About one-third of Chicago public school buildings have space for at least double the students they’re currently enrolling. Chicago officials have previously viewed under-enrolled schools as an inefficient use of limited resources — and a decade ago the city closed a record 50 schools. Do you support closing schools for low enrollment?
No. This issue requires a more nuanced approach and solution than simply closing schools. The solution should revolve around addressing truancy. Additionally, the school space can and should be used for other purposes beneficial to students and the district.

Bilingual education

CPS has long struggled to comply with state and federal laws requiring bilingual programs at schools that enroll 20 or more students who speak a different language. The recent influx of migrant families has exacerbated the problem. What policies do you support to ensure the district is supporting bilingual students and in compliance with state and federal laws?
I support compliance with state and federal law. I also support securing resources which will make CPS compliant with state and federal law. CPS is often the only choice for many migrants to partake in the education system. However, given the current state of CPS’ budget, growing deficit and projected increased deficit, I support looking for alternative sources of revenue to support CPS students, bilingual or not, to improve the district and not increase the taxpayer burden.

Top local issue

Please share one issue that’s a top concern for your community or your larger elected school board voting district.
Many residents in my district discussed the issue of violence in the neighborhoods around the schools. While not directly an educational or operational issue for CPS, it does factor into the overall well-being and ability to learn for our students. It factors into creating a safe environment for our students, teachers, and faculty. Schools often serve as linchpins in communities with thriving schools as a sign of a thriving local community. CPS must be more active and present in their local communities to provide the safe communal spaces for students and families. I subscribe to the “it takes a village” mentality. Throughout my district, schools with active LSCs and active parents reported more sense of community and well-being for their students. CPS must do its part to be an active and positive collaborator in this manner.