Three District 68 Candidates Answer Funding, Green Initiative and Technology Questions at Candidate Forum

Three out of the five candidates for Woodridge School District 68's Board of Education answered 25 questions at Monday's candidate forum.

From green initiatives to funding issues, Patti Cash, and shared their opinions. and did not attend the forum.

The following is a list of the questions the candidates answered Monday night. Click on each question to see how the candidates answered. In some cases, the moderator forgot to ask certain candidates to respond to a question. If this was the case, it will be noted in the question's answers. The questions are listed in the order they were asked, and the responses are listed in the order they were given.

1. Why are you running for this position?
2. What are the critical issues you will address if elected? 
3. Should the entire board or a committee from the board participate in staff contract negotiations? If so, why?
4. What does the fact that there are only 12 people in this room say about the value of education in this community?
5. School districts around the country are facing budget issues. What cuts have you seen that worked well and what cuts haven’t worked well that you would be opposed to?
6. Are you in favor of the establishment of full-day kindergarten? 
7. Governor Quinn recently proposed school district consolidation. Would you favor being consolidated with District 99 and its other feeding districts?
8. How can we prepare the students from District 68 for entering District 99? There's a perception that our children are not as ready academically as other feeding districts. 
9. What new or innovative programs would you like to see integrated into the curriculum and how would you pay for it? 
10. If the state refuses to send money to the district, how will the district manage? 
11. How do parents give input to the school board, or how should they? 
12. (This is not the exact wording of the question, which the editor missed, but the essence of it.) How does the gifted program in District 68 compare with other districts, and how would you improve it?  
13. How can the district incorporate green technology. Do you see this as a worthwhile investment? 
14. What community partnerships are working, and what can you do for other partnerships in the future? 
15. Off-site computer learning sites have been successful in businesses. Would you promote after-school, off-site computer learning for students?  
16. With an intense focus on classroom work and testing, how much time do you think is needed on physical education and recess? 
17. Do you think school extracurricular activities and athletics should be considered for budget cuts? 
18. How do you attract good teachers? 
19. What is the biggest issue facing the district?
20. Would you support a tax increase to fund the district? If not now, when?
21. Would you support a charter school in District 68? 
22. The U.S. has one of the shortest school years in the world. Would you favor a longer school year? Do you see that as a goal?
23. How does the district meet the needs of low income students and families?
24. How do you differ from other candidates running for the school board? 
25. Is it important for District 68 to work with District 99, the Woodridge Park District and the Village of Woodridge?