Politics & Government

District 113 School Board Candidate Q&A: Corinne Bronson-Adatto

A nutritionist and 43-year-resident discusses why she's running for District 113 board.

Background: Corinne Bronson-Adatto, a nutritionist, has lived in Highland Park for 43 years. She's a 1972 graduate of Highland Park High School (HPHS), went through the Highland Park school system and has two daughters that are doing or already have done the same. 

Highland Park Patch: Why run for the school board?

Corinne Bronson-Adatto: Over the past 30 years I have been involved as a volunteer  for many organizations and for the last 20 years for both District 112 and 113. I am a nutritionist and have taught nutrition classes at the schools to students, parents and support staff at Parent Universities, Health Fairs and staff in-services.  For many years I have also helped with and Encore the theatre parent group. 

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This past April, I was co-chair of Highland Park High Schools first all-school EKG screening.  We enlisted the help of 120 volunteers and screened 1200 students in one day.  11 students were found to have irregular EKGs and one was my daughter. Her heart condition was found to be life-threatening and on August 2 had a 9 hour surgery to repair her heart.  This is one example of the good the schools do for the students and their families.

In November, I attended a  District 113 Community Engagement meeting at Highland Park High School.  I then went on a tour of the high school with only three others and realized that many more residents needed to see the conditions of the buildings.  The minute I got home, I emailed Dr. (George) Fornero, the district superintendent, suggesting that a video tour of both Highland Park and Deerfield High Schools be made. The next day, both schools began to produce the videos, which can now be seen on the District 113 website.  I saw something and I made a difference to help others.

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HP Patch: What are some of the things you would like to see change if elected?

Bronson-Adatto: At this moment, I would like to become more immersed in the actions, activities and processes of the board. I then would be more able to make informed decisions and suggestions for improvements or change. 

HP Patch: Given the state of the economy, some residents feel that the school districts are wasting too much money on programs, pensions and the cost of each student to the district is too high. How do you feel about the current state of the district’s financials? How do you plan to vote regarding funding distribution in the coming years?

Bronson-Adatto: The district has done an excellent job managing finances.  District 113 is one of only 80 districts in the country to receive Moody's AAA bond rating. Forty percent of the district's budget is from required expenditures. The other 60 percent of the budget has been reduced by 6 percent or $3.5 million over the past 3 years.  This is quite impressive, considering our current economy.  As far as voting regarding funding in the coming years, I want to become more educated in all aspects of the budget to make the best decisions for the students, staff and the taxpayers.

HP Patch: Talk about the future of the high schools — should District 113’s referendum for funding to improve the high schools pass, do you feel the tax payer’s money will be well spent? How will you communicate with residents that are opposed?

Bronson-Adatto: Spending to improve the high schools is an investment in the current schools as well as planning for the future.  We need to make improvements so that our students will be better prepared to enter the ever shrinking global community when they finish high school. I would also recommend that any one with questions about the conditions of the two schools, take a that are being offered. As I mentioned earlier, video tours of both high schools are also available for viewing on the district's website. We must remember that if our roof leaks in our house, we fix it. If we let it go, then the water damage continues and we need to repair a lot more than a roof, such as the ceiling, the walls, the floors. The same is true for our schools, but instead of two or three or maybe five people living in a house, each school is used by about 2000 people everyday from early morning until late at night. That is a lot of wear and tear. School environments should be safe and healthy for everyone who uses them. Passing the referendum will make the schools better, healthier and safer.

HP Patch: District 113 has Academic Watch Status by the standards of No Child Left Behind. What are some things the school board can do to help the schools meet these standards?

Bronson-Adatto: It was Highland Park High School that did not meet the standards for No Child left Behind and here is why.  Sixty-seven special education students with Individualized Education Programs (IEP's) took the math test, of this group 37 were not proficient and did not meet state imposed standards. These students were diagnosed with one or more of the following disabilities: a) Autism, b) cognitive/mental impairment, c) emotional disabilities, d) learning disabilities in math, e) other health impairments, and f) traumatic brain injury.   These students took the SAME TEST as those who were enrolled in Calculus.

HP Patch: Highland Park High School students have begun the planning process for a teen center. While this planning process is completely independent of the schools, what are some things the school board can do to provide and endorse safe places for students and teens to go after school?

Bronson-Adatto: A teen center may be a welcome addition to Highland Park, but an even better idea would be an intergenerational center to reach more populations in our city.  The benefits from this type of center would be immense. On the other hand, there are about 52 clubs, groups or activites within Highland Park High School, not including athletics, in which students have the opportunity to participate. When I attended a District 113 Board meeting several weeks ago, the Robotics Club gave a presentation.  What was wonderful to hear was a student saying that he was not an athlete, but he found a place for himself in the Robotics club.

HP Patch: District 113 has students that come from low income and non-native English speaking families. How will the school board reach out to these families to involve them in their neighborhood schools and children’s education?

Bronson-Adatto: Efforts are constantly being made and programs developed or improved upon to welcome the diverse populations in the district. There is a district program called Equity in Excellence that is aimed at eliminating racial, socio-economic and gender achievement disparities. There are numerous programs aimed at helping welcome the various groups and their families and to assist the students to be even more successful, from a Homework Club to the Schuler Foundation and College Bound Opportunities.  At HPHS communication is now in English and Spanish.  Military families are also a part of Highland Park High School.  Programs are also made to welcome those students and their families. From my own experiences, since last year I have been providing nutrition education to providers and parents of the Highland Park Highwood Home Care Association.  Some of the moms are students at the high school.  Without this program they may not have been able to complete their high school education.  The students that I met with have completed their high school education and are continuing their education. For 3 years I have been co-chair of the Health Fair at Highland Park High School.   We have included classes held in Spanish and addressed topics of interest to the Spanish speaking population.  Last spring when I co-chaired HPHS's first EKG screening, we included Spanish speaking volunteers and translators so that everyone would feel welcome to participate comfortably.

HP Patch: How will the school board promote partnerships between all parents, teachers and the board?

Bronson-Adatto: Communication is key to promote partnerships between parents, teachers and the board.  The board sets the policy and the paid staff implements the policy. The campaign for me has been an education in education.  I can say from a personal perspective that everyone I have met from board members, to administrative staff, to the principals of both high schools, to the superintendent, that they have all been approachable, informative, welcoming and willing to share information and to educate me on the many facets of the district and the schools.  It has been an enlightening process and we have an amazing district.  I would be proud to be a member of the District 113 School Board.


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