District 68 Candidates Cash, Coley and Pollack Speak at Wednesday's Forum

About a dozen people came to Jefferson Jr. High Wednesday afternoon for a candidate forum featuring the candidates of the District 68  Board of Education race. The forum was hosted by the Woodridge Education Association and the Woodridge Educational Support Staff Association.

Patti Cash, Scott Coley and Leslie Pollack were at the event. Scott Salerno had a previous engagement and was not expected to show. Jeff Gaspar did not attend the event.

Below are the remarks from each of the three candidates present.

Thank you everyone for being at the forum. I've been on the board for four years, so this is my first term. It was a dramatic learning experience the first two years on the board. I think it would take anybody the first few years to figure out what's going on. I've been in this area. I lived down in Bolingbrook but all of my four kids have gone to District 68. My older son is 37 years old. My youngest is 15 who is still at Downers Grove South. 

We as a school board have made major decisions these past four years. We have a new superintendent coming on board, two new principals and a new principal at Jefferson. I want to have a part in finishing the hiring transition to make sure they do the very best they can in their new positions.

At Jefferson, there's a new initiative that one of the people initiated the initiative is going to be the principal. I have had the opportunity to follow through and implement the initiative. It gives kids here lot more choices to better prepare them for high school. In junior high and elementary school they can explore almost any interest. It's a little better, focused and in line with what they think they want to do in high school in smaller, more cohesive environment. 

I want to continue working with the administration to make sure we continue conservative, physical management of our financial resources. We're in a very unique position in that at this point in time. We're not having any financial issues  but that's because we have managed public's funds very, very well. It's a testament to the administration and to all of you.

I was here this afternoon talking with a lady in the LRC (learning resource center) and asked for a piece of paper (he held up a half piece of reused paper). This is really nice -- we're not wasting anything. We talked about printing on both sides of paper. I'm impressed with how well we manage all our resources. We take that very seriously. 

We provide one of best educations for our children -- we meaning all of us collectively -- with the funds we have. As I look back to four years on the board, the test scores continue to escalate and far exceed state and national average due to the teachers and support staff. 

For my background, I'm an old guy. I thought I would get a job and keep that job for the rest of my life. Now I'm an entrepreneur. I have a bachelor's degree in math and sociology from Lycoming College and my master's from Benedictine University.

I'm married with four kids and still one at home.

I'm looking forward to working with you in the future

Thank you everyone for taking time out of your schedule. I know your time is very important.

I have three kids (Olivia, Patrick and Eleanor) who all go to Sipley School. I work as a marketing consultant. I work with only small businesses. All my clients are in the Chicagoland area. Some of the things I do is make websites, print brochures, online advertising campaigns, Google, social media, work with clients to build marketing strategies

I'm a really big believer in community service. I thought it would be a really great way to get involved in the community and give back. I'm also a great supporter of public education. I think every child in our community should get the very best education. It's the best opportunity to grow and learn to their fullest potential. It's very important to me. 

I would make a great addition to the school board and served on a lot of different committees and board. A unique thing I've learned in different situations is to work as a team player and to listen.

The board members have told me nothing will prepare you to be on the school board. I truly believe that. I'm not going into this thinking I know everything. 

I have a lot of energy, the ability to listen and work with everyone else, to be collaborative and listen to a lot of view points. I will take time to learn about the issues and research and be supportive of the teachers and administrators. I want the best for the children in our community. 

I've been on the school board for 14 years. I say that when I joined the school board I was a brunette. I've been the head of the Woodridge Public Education Foundation since 1992. 

I have three children. Two kids gone into education. I have deep roots in Woodridge and in education in general. 

Why I'm running again was not really defined in my mind. When I was answering questions for Patch and going to debates it crystallised for me why I'm running again.

We have a lot of change coming. We have a new superintendent -- that's a dramatic change in itself. We'll have new principals, new board members.

When I joined the school board we were not the school board we are now. It was a difficult board at the time. Our finances were a little bit dubious. 

Working closely with teachers in negotiations, we have been able to move forward to where we are right now. If you're aware of what's going on in education right now, you can have an appreciation of where we are. We're not cutting programs, slashing staff. If state aid continues to be a problem, we will have to look at these things in the future. But right now, we're very stable. 

I have roots in Woodridge and in the Woodridge school system. I want to help the transition and help continue really the culture of cooperation of honesty and integrity we have been able to build up between all the different groups in the district.