Bianca Dinkha
Kathleen Odell, professor of economics and associate provost at Dominican University is running for Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) School Board. As a longtime community member and parent of two OPRF students, Odell has been actively involved, serving on the D200 Community Finance Committee (CFC).
Odell highlighted her background in budgeting, noting that the district operates on a $105 million annual budget, with 60-70% of revenue coming from local taxes, stressing the importance of fiscal responsibility.
As part of the CFC, she helps review five-year budget forecasts which involve projecting future revenue, estimating potential revenue increases, and anticipating future costs.
“It’s very important to the community and to the voters that the district is careful with money,” Odell said. “As economists, we’re always thinking about scarcity and opportunity cost.”
She advocated for equity initiatives like the “honors for all” freshmen curriculum which places students in honors-level courses regardless of race or ethnicity. This creates an opportunity for all students to start in the same honors-level courses in science, English, and history.
“There are definitely [equity] gaps between the white and Asian students versus the Black and Hispanic students,” she said. “And I believe that those gaps, in some cases, are even bigger at OPRF than they are at the state level.”
Additionally, Odell discussed the recent changes in our government and how she plans on prioritizing student interests and safety at OPRF. She emphasized the importance of professional development for staff to understand the rules regarding immigration enforcement in schools.
“Data is very important,” she said. “Given the changes at the federal level, are we careful? [Are we reviewing] any data that we don’t absolutely need regarding student citizenship or immigration status? You don’t need to know immigration status as a public school, you just educate the students who live in your area.”
Similarly, Odell emphasized concerns about LQBTQ+ students, particularly trans and non-binary students, advocating for policies that maintain their rights and safety. Lastly, as federal policies shift, she asserted that the district must uphold science-based health policies including vaccinations.
Odell underscored her commitment to creating a supportive school environment where all students have the resources and opportunities to succeed.
“My long-term vision is really just a vibrant, inclusive, equitable school where outcomes are not determined by any aspect of student identity,” Odell said. “Where everybody has the opportunity to pursue their best outcome, whatever that may be.”
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