Johnsburg School District 12 Board
My exprience includes being a school board member for the past 11 years. I have a working knowledge of school finance and operations. In addition I have worked with Adminastration, and staff to make sure we are delivering the best education to our students with the available resources.
My priorites are to continue work with the Board, Administration, and Staff to balance our budget every year while enhancing the educational opportunities for our students. In addition, I would like to work on imporving our infrastructure to provide the best possible learning environment for the students.
I think the levy needs to be reviewed on an annual basis to determine the needs of the school district and it’s ability to continue to deliver a high quality, well rounded education with the resouces available. We need to determine what is best for the students and tax payers in our district each and every year.
Being a current sitting board memeber I own each and every decision made by the board. I can not recall a resent decision made by the school board that I disagree with.
Finding ways to balance our budget in these tough economic times while not losing site that the students come first.
Voters should vote for me because I care about the students in our district. I have done nothing but give back to the community as a school board member for over 11 years. I want our schools to be the best they can, while still being fair to the administration, certified staff, non-cerfified staff and the tax payer of our district.
As a current board member of CUSD 12, local business owner and parent in our community, I possess the understanding regarding the degree of involvement and engagement required to be successful in each arena.
One top priority would be to align community expectations with District requirements. Improving communication with all members of our community would increase support for the challenges we face as facilities age, education standards rise and funding declines. In keeping with number one, I am also a firm believer in finding creative, proactive ways to meet those challenges while maintaining a balanced budget.
The most recent tax levy was not frozen by our board. I could support a freeze if I saw additional revenue sources (i.e. State / Federal funding) restored or on the rise. New housing starts have been single digits and almost at a standstill in recent years. Grants and legislation are two areas I would encourage we continue to assess for additional opportunities so we do not increase amount taken out of our citizens’ pockets.
I am unified with the decisions made by our recent board, superintendent and district. Changing from Fox Valley to Big Northern conference and awarding a land lease were two examples where I understand we may have had varied opinions but further discussion helped us to have a better appreciation of one another’s perspectives and advantages for the greatest benefit to students in the district.
Since I have been on the board, (both appointed and elected) we have consistently maintained a balanced budget despite declining revenues. That balance was thanks especially to Johnsburg CUSD 12 staff and the community support, not just the school board.
As a member of various organizations, I have demonstrated my willingness to use my strengths for optimum results. I am devoted, diligent and possess strong business acumen. Running a successful manufacturing business for over 16 years is a reflection of how I can be fiscally responsible despite tough economic times. Growing up on a farm in rural Indiana taught me the values I believe I share with the great residents of our community. My involvement in this area began in 1979 and I know it will continue in many positive ways, for many years to come!
I have years of experience creating and establishing budgets, value engineering and negotiating contracts in the new home construction industry. My work in the community as a business manager of the Pink Door in McHenry. My knowledge and involvement in politics and government. My volunteer experience as class mom and Vice-President of Johnsburg School District 12 PTO gives me the opportunity to understand the needs and concerns within our school district.
Three items I am in favor of and support are:
1) Implement a “1 to 1 Technology Plan”, starting with High School Freshman Students. We are preparing students for their future, not ours. This will allow each student to
have a wireless computer device, promoting engagement and preparing them with
workplace skills.
2) Increase digital literacy and 21st century skills. Our students are growing up in a digital world and need to know not only how to be safe online, but how to thrive in such an environment.
3) E portfolios and Competency Based Grading: In my opinion, the federal government forces too much testing on our students. I believe in the expertise and professionalism of our teachers. I feel they are competent to teach and assess our students.
Artificial restraints on budgets are for political points. We must create a budget that meets our school districts needs.
I feel we have an exceptional school district.
However, the decision to spend money buying a blue ribbon lighthouse award, in my opinion, is basically paying a sum of money to consultants for a potential award.
Federal program http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/faq.html
What we are paying for http://www.blueribbonschools.com/
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My background and skills are well suited to leadership within the school district. I am a mother of two sons who are students of Johnsburg School District 12. I have a vested interest in their education and the manner in which it is presented to them not only now but in the future.
Currently serving as a school board member, serving both the policy and personnel committees. Elected to office in the 2009 election. Volunteer in Johnsburg for the last 10 years. Involved with the community and children of our district daily.
To continue to serve our community by being fiscally responsible. By setting policies that guide our superintendent and staff.
While it would be ideal to not pass the burden onto the tax payers, the current situations with the finances of the State of Illinois, puts additional financial constraints on local school districts. District 12 continues to creatively reduce in many areas while costs continue to rise. Without these dollars programs and services would be reduced. The reality is, without a reliable flow of money from the state, districts are left with few alternatives.
As a new board member I struggled with the policy on expelling students. No one ever wants to expell a student but certain situations call for it. After reviewing and changing some aspects of this policy, I feel we have created a more partial and clearer policy for our students and faculty to follow.
Over the last two years we have consistantly reviewed our finanaces and consolidated our debt. We have taken advantage of the lower interest rates that are being offered. This has enabled District 12 to reduce the number of years due on several bonds.
I feel I truly understand all the aspects and responsibilities of being a school board member. I am an active member of the community and make every effort to make myself available to the tax payers of our district. With three children in the district I am strongly invested in the future success of Johnsburg District 12 in the years to come.
I have served in several organizations in District 12, as well as worked closely with administrators to accomplish programs for the entire student body. I have always been in service and dedicated to accomplishing the things best for my peers. Having just graduated from Johnsburg High School I feel I have a unique perspective of knowing what actually is happening in the classrooms. I would like to share my perspective on how policies put into place have impacted and effected the total student population.
My top concern/priority is making sure the curriculum is meeting State standards for the purpose of giving our students the right tools to have a successful college career or a skill set to use in the work force right out of high school. My second priority is security: the necessity of keeping a safe learning environment for our students to learn, for example, finding a safer way for visitors to enter the high school.
Yes, if the citizens in the taxing district have to re-work their budget the governing bodies need to re-work their budget also.
I do not disagree with any particular decision of the board but I am more concerned what has not been brought to the board’s attention. “The students in the building should be secure from external, as well as internal threats” I understand that we have a procedure called “Code Red” in place in case of an intruder walked in, however looking at the high school main entrance there is nothing stopping someone from walking right in. The only thing currently blocking someone from illegally entering is a faculty member sitting at the front desk. This provides little or no security. The fact that installing a buzzer system, like every other school in the District, has not been brought up surprises me. Doing this will be a beneficial precaution for the safety of the students.
The biggest accomplishment of the board in the past year is the abating of the tax levy. I say this because in our current times everyone is hurting for money, including the school. However, it is necessary to make our school district work within the parameters we currently are given. It is necessary for everyone in this time of economic crisis to work within a budget and this is for every government institution also. Taxing people at higher rates will not solve problems in the community at large. A School District is meant to be there for families as well as the students. For healthy families it’s necessary to keep more money in their family budgets hoping to create more positive results in the school environment.
I feel I should be elected because of my passion for quality education in Johnsburg District 12. As a recent graduate of Johnsburg High School, I have a new perspective that I feel isn’t always looked upon by the Board, a student’s perspective. I want to see a successful school for my brother who is currently enrolled at Ringwood Primary Center as well as for my sister currently enrolled at Johnsburg High School. The primary concern of the School Board is to establish a quality-learning environment for all the District’s teachers and students. I feel I could contribute youth, energy and enthusiasm to an already outstanding and successful School Board.
As a life long resident of Johnsburg School District 12 my wife and i have raised our family in Johnsburg.Our three children have been through the schools here graduated and have moved on to raise there own families from the foundation of a good education. Over the many years of service as a Johnsburg school board member, It has been my pleasure to be a part of the process of guiding the school through these tough finincial times with the funding mechanisms provided from our great state of Il. I have served on many committies and contributed my business experience in financial and personel matters.To uphold a strong curriculum and safe learning environment for the students here at Johnsburg.
Loking forward to maintaining a balanced budget while upholding a challenging curriculum in facilities that are safe and accesible to our students.
I would support freezing our districts levy if it did not mean that we would give up revenue of any potential new growth.
As a board, there are many decisions that are made over sometimes delicate matters. After weighing all options and having input from all parties involved the board moves forward as a whole.
A great deal of the success of a school district relies on the board supporting their administration. The Johnsburg School board has overseen and challenged the administration to create a strong curriculum, a safe learning environment, having completed a district wide operations and buidings audit to better plan for future needs
I have always wanted to do what is best for the student and get the best bang for our tax dollar.
I offer District 12’s voters a unique skill set. I graduated from Marquette University with majors in history and education and earned a Master’s in Administration and Educational Leadership from Aurora University. I have worked in education for 19 years; the first 12 as a teacher and the last 7 as an administrator. I have a wealth of experience to offer if elected. I have developed curricula and assessments, and aligned them to national, state, and professional standards. In my current position I am responsible for the hiring, evaluation, and development of staff members. I coached a total of 18 seasons and 9 of them were as the head coach. I believe my experience in and knowledge of public education will give me the opportunity to be a true asset to District 12’s Board of Education.
I want to continue District 12’s tradition of being fiscally responsible, work with board members and the administrators to not only attract, but retain quality educators, and to come to a contract agreement that is viewed as fair by both the teachers and the taxpayers.
District 12 is a true asset to our community and the value of our homes. Through the years, Johnsburg’s Board of Education has been creative and proactive in its efforts to run a lean operation, contain the costs of running the district, and limit the amount it passes on to taxpayers. When the Board of Education sets its levy rate it needs to consider all of these things, along with projected expenses, and the long term implications the decision they make will have on the district.
I am not sure I had disagreements with decisions the board made in the past year because I was not part of the decision-making process. One topic that comes to mind though, is why was the successful accelerated and enrichment program discontinued after being in place for over 30 years? I wish I knew what questions were asked leading up to this decision and what the answers were.
For the past three years Johnsburg’s Board of Education has passed a balanced budget. It seems like every day there is a story in the paper about a school, the state, or the federal government making cuts or looking for ways to increase revenue in an effort to better balance their books. Fortunately these stories have not included District 12 and that is quite an accomplishment in today’s economic climate.
I am a fourth generation resident of Johnsburg. I am very proud of my close-knit hometown and the role our schools play in unifying the residents of our district. I proudly tell people I am a product of the Johnsburg school system and that my children will be as well. My experiences in education, athletics, and the knowledge I have of the community and its residents will enrich the school board and the education it works so diligently to provide the children of our community.
