Election 2011: District 68 Election Candidates on Needed Changes in the District

April 5 is coming up fast. To help you get to know the candidates for the contested Woodridge elections, we asked the candidates for the and the a set of questions. We'll be posting the answers to those questions throughout the week.

Do you have any specific changes you want to make in school district policies, programs or the various school curricula being offered? If so, what changes do you want to make and why?

The Woodridge School District 68 is doing an excellent job. Of course, there is always room for improvement. At the recent Strategic Planning presentation given on March 15th, our school district’s administrators presented goals and objectives for the coming years. These involved the five main areas of curriculum and instruction, technology, personnel, communication, and finance.

I’m excited to potentially be coming onto the school board at a time when these goals and objectives will be developed and implemented. They were crafted from online surveys and focus groups of the staff, parents, and many community groups, and answer many of the concerns of those who participated. Specific action plans will be created and it is important that we continue to build and support these objectives.

Additionally, I believe an effective School Board Member works for the good of the
entire community without becoming a single-issue candidate. In the coming years, my goal is to be responsive and receptive to parents, administrators, staff, students, and the community while keeping the children of our district as the single most important priority.

First let me say that our school’s staff, Administration and school board are doing an outstanding job. Research has shown that children learn and respond better and more positively to mentors like themselves. Therefore, one of my goals is to continue to aggressively strive to align our staff diversity with the student population and the community while at the same time continuing to hire the best qualified personnel for needed positions.

The district recently implemented initiatives at Jefferson JHS to provide a better rounded education by providing more elective choices for each student. I would like to bring the program to a successful full implementation.

I think the curriculum is very good as it is. I would like to see the gifted program changed and expanded a little to be more flexible for students that are still not challenged by the expanded offerings.

I would like to incorporate a strong environmental program. Perhaps starting a gardening program and to continue to improve upon the districts conservation programs. Most of our programs are excellent and I would continue to support and fine tune those programs.

I am not aware of any specific changes that need to be made. I believe that District 68 schools are very good, but, like anything, there is always room for improvement. I hope to have the chance to play an active role in developing policies and programs that will make our schools even better.