Carol Harms, candidate for Red Bud 132 School Board
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More on the election for Red Bud CUSD 132 School Board
Read questionnaires from candidates in the Red Bud CUSD 132 School Board race. Candidates are listed alphabetically.
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Name: Carol Harms
Political party (if applicable): N/A
Age as of April 6, 2021: 63
Campaign website or social media page: N/A
Office seeking: Board of Education member
Are you an incumbent? No
Previous offices sought: None
Occupation: Retired speech and English teacher at Belleville East High School (and others); currently working as a substitute teacher at Red Bud High School
Education: Graduate of Red Bud High School; BA in Speech Communication from Eastern Illinois University; MS in Communication Education from Illinois State University; MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement: I serve on the Red Bud Area Museum board of directors and the Monroe Actors Stage Company board of directors. I am active in my local and county Illinois Association for Home and Community Education units (formerly Home Extension), and I currently serve on the state board as District 5 Director, serving 13 counties in southern Illinois. I am also an active member of St. Peter United Church of Christ in Red Bud, and I am a member of the planning team of the Illinois South Conference of the UCC.
Why are you running? When I retired from teaching, I realized I could not retire from “school.” I have worked as a substitute teacher because there is always a need, especially this year, but I would like to do more. I really learned to appreciate the work of a school board when I was the teacher’s union president and negotiator in Belleville HS Dist. 201. I attended many board meetings, worked with board members in negotiations, and thought it would be interesting to work on that side of the school system someday.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? It is hard to determine one particular issue. I don’t know why other candidates are running, but I do want to see that the new weighted grading system and AP classes at the RBHS are implemented smoothly, as well as the new reading program in the lower grades at the elementary school. Honestly, schools are subject to so much state regulation, I’m not sure that school board candidates should state a bold, “I will do this …!” The Board must follow the rules made by the Illinois State Board of Education, legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly, and stipulations forced on us by the Governor.
Why should people vote for you? I am an excellent choice for the Board of Education because I understand how school works. I have been a teacher who worked with board members, administrators, parents, and of course, students. I have worked in the high school and have been attending District 132 Board meetings this school year, so I am familiar with the issues the Board has been dealing with. I have no axe to grind, no special interests to serve, just a willingness to serve in a leadership position in the Red Bud school district.
This story was originally published March 2, 2021 at 10:44 AM.