Bob Eder said he is a morning person — a 3:30 in the morning person.
As the race for Evanston/Skokie District 65 School Board shifts into full gear, Eder said he wakes up early to begin campaigning for his reelection bid.
Eder, 51, is running against six candidates for four open seats on the District 65 board. Eder first was elected to the school board in 2001.
"It’s very rewarding and very satisfying," said Eder, who has lived in Evanston for 20 years. "You really have to put in the time to be a contributing member to the school board."
Eder, who graduated from the Kellogg School of Management in 1983 with a degree in economics and labor relations, said he hopes to use that background to find answers to District 65’s growing budget concerns.
Eder said the district can find revenues from Evanston’s several tax increment financing, or TIF, districts. The creation of a TIF district freezes the property value for 23 years, allowing any additional tax revenue to be redirected to development within the district — which is geared to raise the property value. When the TIF expires, the property is reassessed and city can collect the increased taxes. Some of the city’s TIFs are due to expire in the next few years.
"I hope to present to the community how much money there is in the TIF fund and let (other) elected officials know how they want them to use it," Eder said.
Eder is vice president of finance and administration at the Donors Forum of Chicago, an association that provides resources for nonprofit organizations.
He previously worked as chief financial officer for Association House of Chicago, an agency that helps families find social resources such as child welfare and health services.
"He is a goal-oriented person," said Anthony Lopez, who worked with Eder at Association House. "His ability to strive for success generates a quality product."
Eder said his most satisfying accomplishment on the board was the development of the Two-Way Immersion Program.
The program improved performance among Latino students by bringing English- and Spanish-speaking students together in the same classroom, Eder said. All students are taught primarily in Spanish until fourth grade when they are taught equally in English and Spanish.
"We think we’ve found the key to significant improvement in achievement for native Spanish-speaking kids," Eder said.
Eder’s other goals include maintaining good district-employee relations, improving administration accountability and increasing communication between District 65 and the community.
He also said he wants to maintain a strong relationship with Northwestern.
Running an as incumbent, Eder said he is not concerned about the four first-time candidates running against him, even if they say the board needs fresh faces.
"I am not running against anyone," Eder said. "I am running for a seat on the board."
Reach Lensay Abadula at [email protected].
