2013 Election: Robert Swale

Name: Robert Swale

Position Sought: Mokena District 159 School Board Member

Campaign Contact Information: facebook.com/robertswale

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

To improve the educational experience for all of Mokena's children through the use of technology and proven methods, while maintaining a balanced budget. This will be done by holding expectations high for the Administration and staff and by holding them accountable to ensure each child is educated to their fullest potential.

Home Address: 

20004 Everett Lane
Mokena, IL 60448

Family Members:

Linda Swale, spouse, 50

Virginia Swale, daughter, 21
Claire Swale, daughter, 19

Education: 

University of Missouri, 1985, BS Engineering

Keller Graduate School of Management, 2002, Masters of Telecommunications Management

Current Occupation and Employer:

Infrastructure Program Manager - Construction, Argonne National Laboratory

I oversee a group of 12 professional staff who manage collectively $30M in building infrastructure construction projects each year.

Political Party Affiliation: Non-partisan election

Why are you seeking office?

To better the classroom experience for Mokena's children while maintaining a balanced budget. Likewise, to ensure the main role of the school board is met: diligent oversight of the Superintendent and district educational professionals. Mark and I want Mokena’s children to get the best education we can reasonably afford. We don’t want to return to the past like some of our opponents, where the Superintendent uses the Board as a rubber stamp to benefit the few.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I've raised two daughters in Lincoln-Way area schools who obtained merit scholarships for college. My parenting experience allows me to understand the important skills children need to succeed at the high school and college levels. I know the challenges at all grade levels. I have broad experience in complex building infrastructure in the context of a large academic organization. I also have no conflicts of interest, since my children are out of the elementary system.

In your opinion, what are the primary challenges facing this district?

The dramatic decrease in school enrollment in Mokena and across the state has resulted in a decrease in State funds for District 159. It is vitally important that we spend these scarce state resources to improve education and eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic oversight and waste. The recent departure by New Lenox from Special Education District 843 is also a major challenge.

How will you address those challenges?

By using sound economic principles to make decisions in the best interest of educating Mokena's children. My institutional business experience will benefit the board as will my long experience working in that realm to solve problems within a budget. An example of sound economic principles is 159’s transportation program. This efficiently run system has a small overhead when compared to the Lincoln-way bus system, which uses many layers of bureaucracy to perform the same function.

If elected, what will be your philosophy as a board member?

To make every decision in the best interest of improving the educational experience of Mokena's children and using proven methods and sound business management to achieve them. The challenge though is this: times have changed; today, schools need to deliver a quality education in a cost effective fashion. To do this, the Board must be accountable to the voters, and the Administration and educational professionals must be accountable to the Board. It is that simple.

Please add any other information pertinent to your campaign.

Mark Franceschini and I are committed to doing the right things to educate Mokena's children. We want to keep Mokena's reputation as a great place to live and raise a family with quality schools. Many of our opponents are backed by special interests who are seeking to benefit from increased budget expenditures with no real goal of increasing the student’s educational outcomes. We want our students ready to compete in a 21st century global economy.