Mike Casey, District 157-C Board Of Education Candidate

FRANKFORT, IL — Mike Casey is a candidate for Frankfort District 157-C Board of Education. There are nine candidates running for four open positions in this race.

The consolidated election is April 4.

Casey's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire can be found below:

Your name:

Mike Casey

Age (as of election day):

36

Town/city of residence:

Mokena

School district:

157-C

Family:

My wife Christine and I have been married for over 11 years. We met while we were both students at the University of Illinois. After college, Christine was a high school Chemistry teacher for 3 years, then a stay at home mom once we started having kids and moving around the country for my military career (we lived in 5 states in our first 5 years of marriage!). She went back to school in 2016 and is now a Dental Hygienist in the Frankfort area. After leaving active duty we made our way back home and moved to this area largely for the great schools. We have 3 kids, ages 9, 6, and 2. Brennan is at Chelsea, Allison is at Grand Prairie, and Kellan is a future 157C student.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

MBA - University of Illinois, Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science - University of Illinois

Occupation:

Industrial Engineering Manager for a global food manufacturer. I've worked there since I left Active Duty in 2017 and have had a few different roles in Operations Management prior to this. I also serve part-time in the National Guard, and have over 15 years of service.

Campaign website or Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profi...

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

The three top issues I see facing our District today are: Student Safety, Teacher Retention, and the Economy. Concerns around Student Safety is an unfortunate reality of today’s environment. Everything we do must be looked at with a Safety lens and we should constantly assess our gaps to stay ahead of any concerns. This goes to not only physical security, but mental health as well. I would push to ensure our schools have the right number of Social Workers and Counselors to address mental health before it becomes a Student Safety risk. A great deal of this burden is currently put on our teachers and they should have the resources needed to maintain focus on educating our kids. We have great schools that are performing well above the state and national average – we want to keep it that way. Currently, 157C is #1 of the 93 large elementary school districts in the State in Math and ELA, but our teacher salaries rank 57th. There is room for improvement here to ensure we can continue to recruit and retain our great teachers, and I would push for competitive salaries and benefits for our teachers. There is more than just salary that keeps a district attractive, though, and we should strive to have the type of culture and environment that teachers want to be part of. These intangibles become more important in our current Economic environment. I would lean on my experience managing budgets to achieve our goals, with the constant understanding that the district’s tax levy is the top item on most people’s property tax bill. Fiscal responsibility is a key task for the board, and this is not one to be taken lightly.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm a middle of the road candidate that doesn't identify as Republican or Democrat. Not every issue is so cut and dry as to fall within these two camps, and I would give consideration to every issue. I would be open for true discussion and debate before making a decision.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

I think the board has done a great job getting our schools to where they are today. They drove several School Safety improvement efforts that improved physical security. They brought our kids back to school as soon as possible, which I believe helped put our students ahead academically. We should not rest on our laurels, though, and fresh ideas and perspectives can help combat complacency.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

One reason I'm running is because of how politically charged everything has become these days. I don't feel very well represented by the two options I'm always forced to choose between. Not enough people are willing to actually listen to other's viewpoints. I intend to keep politics out of our schools and consider the issues, rather than have a pre-defined political dogma.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my current role, I'm responsible for developing and implementing our site's business strategy and managing our site's performance against our targets. We employ over 250 people, responsible for generating millions of dollars in revenue. In this and other roles in the military, I've successfully managed multi-million dollar budgets. I have always been depended upon to make difficult decisions and have not been afraid to stand alone.

Why should voters trust you?

I'm not here for personal or political gain. I believe I am well qualified for this job, and I'm running because I'd like to continue serving my community.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

Success in this position would result in keeping our schools #1, making our teachers' salaries more competitive, and maintaining a neutral tax levy.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

This is a major responsibility for any board, and I would not take this responsibility lightly. We are entrusted with our community's money, and it falls on the board's shoulders to act on the taxpayers' behalf. We shouldn't be afraid to adjust the levy if that is what is required, but this is not a measure that should be taken lightly, and every other funding option should be exhausted first.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

I think the school district overall did a great job handling the pandemic. Bringing our kids back to school as early as possible is one of the things that put our students at an advantage.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school boards saw extremely heated disagreements during public meetings. If elected, what changes, if any, need to be made to ensure meetings are run efficiently while still allowing open discussions?

Well communicated and enforced rules will allow for fairness and opportunity for the community members to bring any concerns to attention at meetings. Board members must lead by example while also setting expectations for respectful, peaceful dialogue.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

Basic, age-appropriate sex education has been an important part of the curriculum for a long time, and should remain so. As far as LGBTQ education, it is my understanding that teacher training in this field is very limited and I don't believe there is currently enough qualification to take on this subject in our schools.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district?

While I can't say that I'm very well-educated in CRT or its part in school curriculums, I'm open to learning more and having discussions with fellow board members and concerned community members.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I'm not currently aware of any issues regarding racial equality in our district, but I'm willing to listen to any concerns regarding this matter that are brought to the board's attention.

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?

This is a fantastic school district with great students and teachers. We can't become complacent with past success, and we should strive to continue to excel. Collaboration and continuing education for our teachers is essential in making sure we are providing the best possible education for all types and levels of learners. This will ensure our kids are best prepared to face the world beyond the classroom.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was ____________

Going through different training courses in the Army, we were always reminded: "Don't Self-Select." In other words: "don't quit on yourself". Even as things get difficult, and you start to doubt your own abilities, keep doing your best. The only way to guarantee failure is to quit - you never know what you accomplish if you don't try in the first place.