Growing up in Bettendorf, Iowa, Steve Anderson’s mom would support candidates for the local school board. Her involvement rubbed off on him, even though he left Iowa for Homewood.
Anderson gave time the past 18 years to school boards – serving 10 years on the Homewood District 153 school board and eight years on Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s District 233, including board president for two years. He decided not to run for re-election.
Anderson met his wife, Laurie, an H-F graduate, when they were students at the University of Iowa. When they married, they settled in Homewood. Steve spent four years on the Junior Board of the Cancer Support Center. He got involved in Homewood baseball.
It was at a get-together in his garage that he posed a question to 10 friends suggesting that they think about stepping into other leadership roles in the community. Anderson chose the school board.
“At the time (2007) my boys were 1, 3, 6 and 8 and I was in a new job, so there’s a lot of change, but it just felt like there was an opportunity,” he said. He believed the best way to get involved is to do it for your kids, and “I was coaching the kids already, they were really small, and I thought where else can I be effective.”
Anderson’s made a career in banking and his expertise was especially helpful when Homewood Schools went to the community asking residents to raise their taxes to give the district a cash infusion.
“The first year I was on 153 we had to borrow money from the state because Cook County was late in reimbursing the taxes. We had to go hat-in-hand to Springfield. Two years later we went to referendum. Then five years later we went to referendum,” he said.
“I was knocking on doors. I think I felt less than 20% of the people were negative.
I had a lot of longer conversations, but I thought a) there’s no other avenue to pursue and b) the district did an excellent job of communicating the why. I didn’t think there was another choice.” Both the 2011 and 2016 referenda passed with 80% approval from voters.
As his children aged, Anderson switched his focus to high school. He was elected to a seat on District 233 in 2021. Again, he put his knowledge of finance to work. It was during his first term that the board approved the new Performing Arts Center.
“The board was ready to approve it, but there were a few things in my mind as a banker that hadn’t been done. We eventually got there and its fantastic, everybody loves it. Everybody uses it and our kids are thriving,” he said.
He also supported the improvements in the North Building for Career and Technical Education programs and the new Science Wing under construction at the South Building. Anderson said he and his fellow board members recognized it was necessary to bring the buildings up-to-date so H-F’s curriculum can meet the latest standards.
He is especially proud of the board’s actions to save taxpayers money through reduced levies year after year, thanks in part to H-F receiving additional state dollars.
During his tenure he’s twice selected superintendents for District 233. He’s championed H-F for its outstanding programs, its dedicated staff and wonderful students.
Anderson encourages others to step up for board positions.
“There’s no volunteering I’ve done that’s had more of an impact than what’s important to me and that’s my family. And if you believe you can have more of an impact by serving locally, this is a great way to do it. It’s not always easy, it’s not always rewarding but it almost always is enjoyable,” he said.
Anderson said “18 years on a school board was great for me. I know why I did it, I’m happy I did it and I’m ready for another challenge.” This past year Anderson has been speaking during board meetings on a need to strengthen gun safety. He plans to continue to work on 2nd Amendment issues.