Dupage Policy Journal

Kimberly Hobbs is a candidate for a seat on the DuPage, Wheaton Warrenville Community Unit School District 200 school board. 

Hobbs has seven children, including two graduates from Wheaton North and five who attend three levels of CUSD200 schools. She will be on the April 4 ballot.

“I am running for school board because I love children and want to see them learn, discover and grow,” Hobbs told DuPage Policy Journal. “For this to occur well, the schools must be as ideologically neutral as possible, concentrating on the essentials of their mission, the fundamental academic disciplines. Parents are the primary agents for teaching moral, social, and sexual values, and are the foremost guardians of their children’s mental health.” 

According to the Parents for CUSD200 Children website, Hobbs has been an active member of Grace Church of DuPage since 1990, serving in the Children’s and Youth ministries. She also co-leads the Women’s Bible studies. The website said Hobbs would bring to the table her ability to think critically, the ability to hear and engage other viewpoints with respect, and the ability to stand her ground when necessary. Hobbs pledged to make the school district better.

“If elected, I hope to be able to strengthen the district in offering rigorous academics, support those who are struggling so that they may achieve at higher levels, and institute frameworks to ensure that schools focus on academic essentials.”  

The Parents for CUSD 200 Children slate consists of Hobbs, Amy Erkenswick, Spencer Garrett, and David Sohmer.

“While we appreciate the many ways that District 200 has positively impacted our community, we recognize there are a number of areas that will require significant attention. This list of focus areas includes, but is not limited to: academic decline; parental rights and consent; age-appropriate LLC materials and curriculum; fiscal responsibility; transparency with the community,” the group said on Facebook.

Hobbs voiced her concern for academic decline on the group’s website. “Academic decline is a serious issue for our district. Even prior to COVID, one can chart a decrease in our students’ overall proficiency in the critical areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics. That there are many factors playing into this situation is beyond dispute.”

 If elected, one area she said she would explore, "would be how to address the early literacy needs of children who live within the borders of CUSD 200." She further said that, "Exposure to, and delight in the written word is one of the strongest foundations for academic success. While many of our students enter our school system with such a foundation, many others arrive having encountered obstacles to its development. Surely, if we can strengthen those who have faced such difficulties, we will see them reap results which will benefit both them and our district.”

Community Unit School District 200 is headquartered at 130 W Park Ave. in Wheaton. It oversees 20 schools and 11,709 students and employs 928 classroom teachers.