Dupage Policy Journal

Bo Herbst doesn’t mince words when articulating what he feels is in the best interest of Glenbrook High School District 225. 

“We’re strongly in favor of teachers; I’ve got eight kids all going through school system,” Herbst, who is running for a seat on the District 225 school board, told the DuPage Policy Journal. “We’ve had wonderful teachers, really [an] inspiration. We’re not against teachers, but if the teachers’ union is preventing or discouraging in-person education, then darn right we're against them.”

Herbst has made his signature message in a hotly contested race that features 10 candidates for four seats as the April 6 tilt draws closer. The father of eight is running as part of the Team Glenbrook 225 slate that also includes Carol Schmidt, Paul Kelly and Mai Lin Noffke.

Herbst told the Chicago Tribune another motivation for his run is coming up with a way to make up for all the damage students have experienced by not being in class on a full-time basis.

“We are going to continue to feel the impacts of the pandemic for many years,” he said. “The educational gaps, mental health issues and disruption of the social development of our students are all issues we know will continue to linger.

Herbst said none of that seems to matter to top teacher’s union officials when it comes to just getting what they want.

“The fact that the teachers’ union is endorsing a slate of candidates that in two years will be negotiating their contract, that’s troubling,” he said. “That’s the old Chicago you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours way. You don’t think they’ll be going back in two years and saying, ‘hey, we got you elected now you’ve got to give us favorable terms.’”

In the end, Herbst argues safe in-person instructions should be available to any student that wants it.