The Examiner U-46 News FeedEssendrop challenged, running for U-46 board By Seth Hancock
Enoch Essendrop is one of three challengers in the race for three open Board of Education seats in School District U-46 in the upcoming April 4 election.
Essendrop responded to a questionnaire from The Examiner, and on why he’s running comes down to the need for change.
“There is a great need on the U-46 board for change,” Essendrop said. “Courageous community leaders like Jeanette Ward and Cody Holt have been fighting as hard as they can to bring positive reform to the forefront, but there is a radical element on the board resisting every effort. I saw a great need within the community that wants to see change in U-46 and I want to be a part of that.”
Part of witnessing that need for Essendrop was the way the board’s majority refused to question the district administration’s decision to change U-46’s bathroom/locker room access without any public discussion.
Not only did some board members brush off public concerns, several used political rhetoric to attack those opposed to the district’s decision and told the public the only way they would listen to them was if they won board seats. Essendrop took that as a challenge.
“It was the board meeting that many people came out to speak about access to facilities that highlighted for me that U-46 needs change,” Essendrop said. “At that meeting I watched as the board majority voted to restrict public comment and some members openly showed disrespect to those same public speakers. One board member even issued a challenge that the only way we will change this board is to run for public office. I have accepted that challenge and look forward to helping reform our district.”
On the most pressing issues facing the district, Essendrop said it “comes down to finances, transparency and educational achievement.”
Essendrop said: “When elected I will be a voice for district taxpayers by making sure that we limit the burden on working families and seniors. We can do this by freezing property taxes, which I have vocally supported. Increasing our transparency means that we rescind the draconian restrictions on public comments. Student privacy is a must as well and we must make sure that we are protecting all of our students. Student privacy guidelines should make sure that students use the facilities of their biological sex and we can provide alternative accommodations for confused students in a nurse’s office or faculty bathroom. Finally, to improve educational achievement we have to hold our administrators accountable, create fair curriculum and support school choice initiatives.”
The school board’s role is to create policies and approve budgets and curriculum among other things according to Essendrop, but he finds the current board lacking in doing this job.
“In the realm of policy, there has been a lack of transparency. In regards to curriculum, there is a clear ideological bias. The over taxation of U-46 property owners is only made more onerous by the budgets passed by the board of U-46,” Essendrop said. “The board majority has continued to push their own agenda which has vastly raised our debt, increased the tax burden, stagnated academic achievement and indoctrinated our youth. It is time to turn the page and enter a new chapter in the history of School District U-46.”
A lack of transparency has been a reoccurring issue, and district finances are always at stake.
Asked if he will be transparent and explain his vote as well as if the district can find ways to cut spending in order to alleviate the burden on taxpayers, Essendrop said: “After being elected to the school board I will be held accountable and will explain my votes when necessary. With regards to fiscal matters we must spend money where necessary and live within our means. The average district resident has to do that in their private life, and it should be expected that our government should do the same.”
Editor’s Note: The above story represents the third in a series outlining the views of candidates running for the District U-46 school board.
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