Meet District 303 School Board Candidate Carolyn Waibel

Name: Carolyn Waibel

Age: 44

Town of residence: St. Charles

Position Sought: District 303 School Board

Family: Son, 13 years old, 8th grade Wredling Middle School

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Communications, 1994
University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana

Occupation:

Consulting
20+years, Sales and Marketing

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Appointed Office for City of St Charles:
Current Commissioner for St Charles Mental Health Commission
Current Commissioner for St Charles Youth Commission

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it: The single most pressing issue facing our board is the Thompson Haines construction project. The Thompson-Haines construction project will need to be completed over the next several years and our focus as a community needs to be on the transitions for the students, parents and teachers from both Thompson and Haines. We need to focus on making the middle school experience safe for the students and faculty during the construction. It is important that we are proactive and put in place procedures and processes to ease anxiety for students with building transitions, extracurricular changes, and social and emotional interruptions and changes. We need to seek input from our parents and teachers to project and prepare for the students emerging needs. We need to gather feedback from teachers and parents on committee in every phase of construction starting now, on what is needed in the new buildings, all the way up to the last phase of construction. Also we need to create a unified culture for the new school that represents the history and future of both Thompson and Haines.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?: The first strength I bring to the board is to communicate effectively and openly. My education, business background and practical experience have given me the skills to add to the team with strategic planning, communication, negotiation, and mediation excellence. I would seek input, be candid and provide an effective sounding board for student, parent, faculty, administration and community feedback to build trust. I view myself as a facilitator in providing consistent improvement in strengthening the bond between parents, teachers and students. The second strength I bring to the board is parental involvement. I have been active in the PTO and serve on committees for the city and county. All of these committees have given me insight as to what is important to the youth in our area and bring awareness to the struggles that many students face in their daily lives. This is valuable insight to share with the board. Lastly, my corporate experience as a Director in Sales and Marketing brings experience of fiscal responsibility, budgeting and strategic plans to the table. It is important to be specific about where the dollars are being spent and clearly communicate that information to the community.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? : As communication is my background, I believe it to be base of any successful collaborative team and organization. The current board could have done a better job of communicating to the parents, teachers and community the "whats" and "whys" of the decisions being made, feedback on programs, meetings, results of surveys, and education on trending issues and current climate changes in our culture. Subsequently they needed to do a better job of hearing the concerns of the students from the students, their parents, and community groups. A better flow of input and two-way conversation of idea-sharing is needed from the stakeholders to the board. This is what I would like to be a part of seeing through, a collaborative effort to engage parents to create ideas for a greater education for our kids.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am a passionate advocate for the kids, for their safety, social and emotional well-being and helping them manage our changing culture. My unique perspective and my experience for the last four years serving on mental health committees in the area have provided me insight to the current challenges the St Charles student population is currently facing with mental health, one of the top five health problems in the US today. Also, I know I can continue to add value to the community with my business and communication experience, and with the vision to continue to make St Charles the leader in education and development as we know it to be. I bring fresh ideas and new perspectives to be creative and innovative to help lead our community forward. I can lead us to be open and honest with communication, educate all parties on the reasons why decisions are made and collaboratively integrate other municipalities in projects. My background in communication, active listening, and conflict resolution can be utilized with working together with parents, teachers, business, administration, community and municipalities to set up strategies and set the tone on where the district is going.

If you gain this position, what accomplishment would define your term in office as a success?

A great accomplishment after a term in office would be to have a comprehensive strategic plan in place for the district showing where the organization will be going. This plan would be set by getting input from all stakeholders, students, parents, teachers, administration and community members. I would also like to see St Charles as a leader in the education, process and policy for special needs and mental health, setting an example for our Kane County neighbors and neighboring northern Illinois communities.

Please share with voters a story about wisdom gained from a mistake you made in your life or career.

I have very little regret in life that I would consider a "mistake", as I believe every misstep is a teachable moment, but if anything I would have added a degree in teaching or child development.

Why should voters trust you?: I have lived in this community for almost forty years. I attended St. Charles schools and was very involved, culminating in my election as St Charles (East) Student Council President. I graduated from University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana with a degree in Communication. I came back in the mid 1990’s as a guest speaker to run programs with Dr. Robert McBride at St. Charles (East). Then in 2009, I became active in the PTO at Ferson School and served as President there for two years. In the last four years, I have served on the St Charles Youth and Mental Health Commission as a result of Mayor Ray Rogina’s personal recommendation. These two commissions serve our youth and our disadvantaged. I also serve on the Mid Valley Mental Health Partnership of Kane County. I believe I can be helpful to the current board in place with my vision of wanting what is best for the community. This includes all stakeholders-students, parents, teachers, businesses and the rest of the community. My desire to be a public servant in helping others coupled with my business and communication background motivates me to do right by the students and the taxpayers.I love this community, it is my home, and home to my son. We are invested in this town, and the people in it. I am here to help. It is as simple as that. There is no greater gift than to help a child.

Share a quote that defines your philosophy: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” Eleanor Roosevelt

What questions should be asked of current government employees accountable to your board?: The only employee directly employed by the board will be the new Superintendent Dr. Jason Pearson. Dr. Pearson will be leading the community through many changes with the middle school transitions. I would like to see him prioritize the needs of the students, parents and teachers equally with the financial responsibility that the previous administration has valued. It would be optimal to have a proactive plan in place for the transition of the middle school students for emotional and social needs, as well as physical safety before any construction begins, including contingency plans for crisis intervention needs. Also it is equally important for Dr. Pearson to communicate effectively and openly with the community, faculty, parents and students. It is imperative to be up front and engage our parents in the education process, so they have an opportunity to share feedback and gain a full understanding of the decisions made by administration and the board. It is necessary for the community to be able to approach the administration with their questions of “why” and receive comprehensive answers. Most decisions can be accepted by the community, if they can be explained with understanding and reason, thoroughly and honestly. Lastly, Dr. Pearson has a challenge of positively evolving with the technological climate in our culture for our student population. There will be need to be adjustments in curriculum, teaching, and behavioral needs that will continue to occur as our culture continues to evolve at its fast pace. Also I would like to see Dr. Pearson open the communication rhetoric on topics such as mental health, special needs, suicide prevention, anxiety absenteeism, and drug and alcohol prevention in our district.

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?: I would keep the continuity of the current board of generally maintaining budget spending as they have done a good job of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars in recent years. It has allowed them to come into these construction decisions with a robust budget. Even though the decisions for school improvements have been made, and the budget will look different in the next board cycle, the guideline still makes sense. The question of limiting property tax levies most likely will be made for us soon at the state level however, and will be taken out of the hands of the municipalities. Illinois lawmakers are making decisions currently to freeze property taxes, which will change our dependence on them. We must remain steadfast in our conservative budgeting and wise spending while being active with educators in lobbying law makers, particularly our local representatives, to take a strong look at the funding formula which relies so heavily on property taxes.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?: There are three facets of accomplishments I feel have prepared me for this position. The accomplishments I have achieved in my almost twenty years in business. Achievements including a successful career running a multimillion dollar division in a fortune company as Sales and Marketing Director, managing budgets, personnel, clients, and rolling out communication modules. The second area of achievements in the last eight years of volunteerism in this district with the PTO and in this city with the commissions and with the partnership, both in the areas related to our youth. My responsibilities have included running events, budgets, collaborating with community partners, parents and teachers, and responsibly allocating taxpayer dollars. Lastly, I have navigated the needs of my child through this district as a parent, and I understand the importance to be heard about the needs of the student. It is imperative for a board member to be willing to listen.

The best advice ever shared with me was: The examples set by my parents of a strong work ethic and to stand up for what you believe in, has guided me throughout my life.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?: It is my greatest honor and duty to give back to the community I have called home for almost four decades. I am proud and humbled to be a civil servant and to serve our youth through the commissions with the city and county. I hope for the chance to give back in a larger capacity and be able to touch the lives of many more families and children through the St Charles School Board. I truly care about our community, the people in it and especially the futures of our kids. I have a unique perspective through life experience, as well as from serving on these committees, to touch the lives of others with what I have learned to help shape and change the trajectory of the lives of kids for the better. It is my steadfast belief that we are bestowed gifts of knowledge in this life and it is our responsibility to share that to help that of our fellow neighbor to help ease their life. There is no greater gift than to be able to help a child by simply communicating your knowledge or story and connecting them to someone who can help them in their journey. We are so very blessed here in St Charles, a city that has a strong and highly respected school district. I know I can continue to build on those achievements in this district, and with your vote, to accomplish new heights in education.

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