On March 4, Patch published its 2013 District 99 Election Hub, a complete guide to the April 9 consolidated election in Community High School District 99. There you'll find voter information, recent election news and complete candidate biographies.
Before voters head to the polls, Patch wants to give readers an opportunity to compare where candidates for the District 99 School Board stand on key issues. We will publish the questions in separate posts, along with responses from all five candidates.
Question
What are the biggest challenges facing District 99?
Candidate Answers
Debbie Boyle
District 99 is in great shape programmatically and financially. We are sound, yet we do face challenges that will require our attention.
Finance is always a critical area because much is expected of our schools, which provide essential services and yet we are funded 83 percent by the local community. The Board has an obligation to spend money wisely and a deep responsibility to be transparent, making sure our fellow citizens know exactly how and where the money is spent. Unfortunately as state finances continue to deteriorate, the burdens on our local property owners will only increase. Therefore, I believe we need to investigate supplemental sources of revenue.
Another area of concern is the disparity in test scores and achievement among certain subgroups of our student population. District 99 has initiated additional programs and support systems, including efforts to encourage more parental involvement and participation, but these initiatives are time and staff intensive.
Lastly, I would include technology as a challenge. In the last few years, District 99 has embraced technology by installing wireless networks at the Administrative Service Center and at both campuses. In addition, we have purchased new laptops for our instructors and have invested in training teachers for its effective use. However, technology has and will continue to change so rapidly that it will present an ongoing challenge to consistently apply and integrate its use effectively.
Martin Gorski
There are two concerns one is financial the other is for the continued involvement of parental guidance in our community.
From the financial perspective, the current system of tax levies needs to be reviewed; I believe this was noted recently by board member Keith Matune. The inefficiencies are best shown in Hinsdale District 86; tax discussions where the rationale for raising taxes is that if the board doesn’t raise the tax it will be an opportunity foregone. The board admits that there is no immediate need for the tax increase but passes the maximum level in order to ensure higher levels of future taxation. As with any form of controls, such caps are inefficient.
Regarding continuing the high level of parental involvement, obviously this is something we cannot regulate. However, teachers need to work with parents to ensure that children are being properly encouraged in their studies.
Teresa "Terry" K. Pavesich
One of the biggest challenges ahead is pension reform. Our biggest problem is that we are not the body making the decision. What is decided, we have to administer. As a board we have tried to plan for whatever the state decides how we will deal with the pension deficit. I think our biggest challenge is keeping our great program intact. But again it all depends on how this is resolved.
Julia Kennedy Beckman
The biggest challenge facing District 99 is budgetary—maintaining and improving our extensive class offerings as well as our broad variety of those important co-curricular activities in the face of uncertain state and federal funding. We must continue to communicate with our legislators, who often don’t seem to understand our challenges as they pass more and more unfunded mandates. The district administration has been nothing short of outstanding in leveraging our resources so that we can continue to provide the high quality and varied array of courses, plus over 50 co-curricular offerings—the arts, athletics, speech and numerous clubs. We must do everything we can to keep our standards high, as high as we can afford.
Rick Pavinato
The district must maintain fiscal responsibility to the community while still preparing all students for future challenges. District 99 must continue to provide the best academic and extra-curricular experience that it can to all students.
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