Candidates Provide Their Views on School Issues
Four candidates running to fill three open postions on the school board.
Photos
Jim Burke, Doug Goldberg, Tony Pietro and Chris Wallace, the four candidates who are running, had an opportunity to discuss their views on a number of school-related topics during the school board candidate forum
The forum was held Thursday night at Middle School North. There are three open seats on the board up for election on Tuesday, April 5. A second forum, sponsored by the Community Unit School District 95 PTOs, will be held 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 22, in the Middle School South Cafeteria.
All questions had been submitted in advance, and each candidate was given two minutes to respond. Of the four, only Wallace is not an incumbent.
Their Views on Creationism versus Evolution
“I don’t think creationism is an issue,” said Goldberg. “There’s a law in place that prevents it from being taught in our schools. When I was previously asked about this, what I said was taken out of context.”
“I agree,” said Pietro. “Since there’s a law that prohibits it from being taught, it’s not really a concern.”
All the candidates favor the teaching of evolution.
What Works, What Doesn't?
“I feel that we need more transparency on the board,” said Wallace. “You can have the minutes of a board meeting transcribed and e-mailed very easily so that everyone is aware of what’s going on.” Wallace also mentioned the implementing green initiatives as another area where improvement is needed.
While Wallace focused more on areas of improvement, Burke cited the district’s average ACT scores of 24 as something that parents and students should be proud of.
“We’ll have a surplus of around five or six million (dollars) this fiscal year and I’d like to see some of that money put back into the schools, especially in the area of technology,” said Burke.
Pietro also mentioned the surplus of capital being the result of sound and conservative fiscal policy on the board. “We’re also working towards building our curriculum, towards a more common assessment,” he said.
Goldberg lauded the community for being very engaged with the schools in the district. “We’ve got a lot to be thankful for.” The current seven-year review cycle needs an overhaul, according to Goldberg. “We need to tighten that up. It’s too long of a cycle. The world is moving too rapidly to have something this important be reviewed at seven year intervals.”
What Gets Top Priority?
Burke reiterated his desire to see some of the district’s surplus driven back into the schools, especially for technology.
Goldberg cited the aging facilities that he said need to be overhauled. “We need PCs in all of the classes. Students have far more access to technology at home than they do at school. That’s wrong and needs to be corrected.”
Pietro said that an increase in computers, as well as technology in general, is the most important priority. Wallace again mentioned his desire for greater transparency on the school board. “There would have to be more accountability if that were the case, which is a good thing,” he said.
The Next Teachers' Contract
With just one year left on the current teachers' contract, the quartet was asked what sort of new agreement they envisioned. Pietro suggested that the existing contracts of neighboring districts should be scrutinized.
“Skyrocketing health care costs are a real problem,” he said. “That will definitely be an area of concern.”
Burke said that looking for a contract that's good for the teachers has to be the priority. “You need to be able to both keep and attract quality teachers,” he said. “So the contract will need to reflect that.”
Goldberg echoed Burke’s sentiment. “We’re blessed with a wonderful faculty. You want to retain them and keep them happy. And you also have to adjust in the context of the world around us.”
Wallace stressed fiscal responsibility. “You have to live within your means. I think that has to be taken into consideration,” he said.
All four candidates said that they support the teacher's right to collective bargaining.
Curriculum and ACT Scores
Pietro cited improving high school freshman’s math and science grades and getting as many as possible into honors classes a solid strategy to boost ACT scores. “There are also ACT prep classes that can help students.”
Burke suggested standardizing curriculum at a younger age in grade school and middle school so that students are learning at a comparable rate. Goldberg said that there's too much emphasis on ACT scores. “There’s a danger in teaching to ACT scores,” he said. “We shouldn’t focus so much on raising ACT scores. The focus should be on bringing up student’s GPA.”
Preparing Students
Wallace cited the need to keep up with peer school districts. “It’s important for our students to stay competitive with students in other districts.” Burke and Goldberg both said that technology isn't being used enough in classrooms.
“There’s a much larger issue than just giving teachers technology to pass on to students,” said Goldberg. “It has to be used in a way that makes it interesting.”
Today’s students are very different from how they were when he was growing up, according to Pietro. “Student’s brains are wired differently today. They’re used to multi-tasking. School becomes boring for them. We have to find ways to keep that from happening.”
Wallace said students are actually spending too much time on computers. “With all of the things they do these days on computers, the various games and Facebook, they need to go out and be social.”
Registration Fee
All of the candidates said that they are against fee increases. “I was very vocal about about not raising fees last year,” said Burke. “I fought to keep them the same or have them lowered.” All concurred that, if anything, fees should be lowered.
The Next AssistaNT Superintendent
With sAssistant Superintendent of Student Services Nancy Rosenfeld retiring in a year, the candidates were asked what characteristics they would look for in Rosenfeld’s successor. Burke mentioned a greater sensitivity to the needs of special education students.
“Parents of special ed students go through a lot of hardship,” Burke said. The other three candidates agreed that would be the most important thing that they would look for in a new superintendant.
“I think the needs of special ed students are extremely important,” said Pietro.
When asked about the possibility of teachers taking pay cuts, all three of the sitting board members emphasized that the issue has never come up during any board meetings, and were vehemently opposed.
“We want a happy faculty,” declared Pietro. “You want to be able to retain your present teachers and attract new teachers of quality,” said Burke. “Pay cuts would definitely hamper that.”
Wallace mentioned that next year’s incoming freshman class will be less than 500 for the first time in years. “Less students could mean less teachers,” he cautioned.
Green Initiatives
All of the candidates talked about the need to adapt more green initiatives into the schools. Wallace talked about the health care facility where he works installing sensors in the building’s lighting systems so that when traffic decreases in a room or given area, the lights turn off. “I don’t know if that would be possible in a school, but I think it would work.”
A greater degree of recycling and the installation of automated electrical systems are two areas that could reduce the carbon footprint of the schools, said Goldberg. And Burke discussed a plan that he proposed to install an energy-saving lighting system in one of the school’s gyms.
ISATs As a Means to Measure Student Performance
All of the candidates had reservations about the effectiveness of using ISAT scores to measure student performance.
“ISATs are relied on to far too great of a degree,” said Burke. “And they’re not an accurate measurement for special ed students."
Goldberg said he would like to see greater consistency throughout the schools in measuring student’s academic performance.
No Teachers in the Group
When the foursome were asked if they are currently or have ever been teachers, Pietro joked and recalled that he had been a student teacher for one semester when he was in college. In fact, none of the candidates have a teaching background.
Paul Pike
7:36 am on Friday, March 4, 2011
"With school superintendant Dr. Michael J. Egan retiring in a year,..."
Got that one wrong Mr. Katzman. The question, and the answers provided, were about the pending retirement of Asst Supt. of Special Education Nancy Rosenfeld, not Dr. Egan. Candidate Burke hit a homerun with his answer.
Josh Katzman
10:34 am on Friday, March 4, 2011
I apologize for the error. When the question was asked, I didn't hear "assistant", so I assumed moderator Denise Sherman was referring to Dr. Egan. The article has been corrected to reflect that it is Nancy Rosenfeld who will be stepping down next year.
CarolynB
8:00 am on Friday, March 4, 2011
Thanks for clarifying that the school board candidates aren't for teaching creationism in schools. I was stunned when the Daily Herald indicated that they were for it. Good article Josh Katzman!
2011
12:14 pm on Friday, March 4, 2011
People still have to be careful: politicians or politician wannabes are generally not trustworthy. They may now say "creationism is prohibited in schools by law". But they may change their tune to "but we have to tell students the weaknesses of evolution by way of the intelligent design theory".
Did somebody from this group ignorantly said "evolution is a theory and creationism is a fact"?
robert
1:13 pm on Friday, March 4, 2011
Every local government in the PAST made financial commitments via salaries,pensions, and heath care packages that private industry in the past 3/4 years have found to unsustainable.
The public sector nationwide has taken the attitude of "it's not our problem"
Well,
with property values in district 95 haven fallen approximately 1/3 over the same time period, and many many homes in foreclosure, the problem is now your problem as the $ simply are not there and I hope the board forgets the word "happy" before the next contract
Janet Putbress
12:31 pm on Saturday, March 5, 2011
Noting that the Freshman class will be under 500 shows the downturn in enrollment that was predicted several years ago. The "bubble" of the 90's has passed thru the system. The district has closed Charles Quienten and consolidated accordingly. As the retirements continue and the need for less staff exists, a "savings" will occur. This will help in reallocation of resources.. for long term decisions. I applaud the financial restraint of the previous board(s) and encourage the new board to maintain fiscal responsibility while addressing the much needed and ignored building issues.
The community should begin a process of providing for future needs by looking at cost of building an elementary building and district offices/early education and special services complex at the Old MSN/May Whitney site. By 2014-2016 there will be available resources that should be explored now.
In addition, the technologies needed to both assist the student learning process as well as improving the physical plants are necessary. Hopefully, you can view the declining enrollment as a golden opportunity to provide a legacy for future students in District 95.
Carolyn Fitzgerald
3:15 pm on Saturday, March 5, 2011
OK, everyone in the know (past and current BOE members) acknowledge there are district facilities that are in very bad shape.
What about the children in these facilities and their health? It is wrong to force them into these conditions and gamble with their health. Any and all requests for transfers should be granted.
What tremendous sacrifice some in our community are making for the sake of fiscal responsibility.
Jim
4:24 pm on Saturday, March 5, 2011
Carolyn,
Can you name ONE specific actual health hazard in these facilities? The District has done everything imaginable to ensure the safety of these buildings. The experts have said they find absolutely nothing wrong.
The buildings suffer only from age, something that I enjoy and which you will experience. They are expensive to operate and maintain. That does not mean that they are unhealthy.
Jan Putbress and many others worked very hard to get better resources for the kids which including the new buildings on Old McHenry. Your neighborhood voted against everyone of the initiatives.
Lead, Follow or get out of the way!!
My three cents
9:40 am on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Is JIM a current school board member? If so, a last name please?
Jim
4:37 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
No I am not, and never have been. I have watched the District for many years as a critic (hopefully constructive) and as a supporter. We all want the same thing for the kids, regardless of whether we have kids in school.
The District is making investments (the surpluses) in repairing and improving the schools - where the money belongs. Those were deficits until a couple years back when "cranky" board members insisted on better fiscal responsibility. That was only a buzzword before, even with some current board members.
No, they are not perfect, but they are improving.
just wondering
5:58 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Jim, There are numerous health hazards in the facilities. Let's start with Lead. Despite lead paint being a hazard identified in the life safety reports for as long as I could find, the first time the district ever tested the paint in the district was in the spring of 2009 after a group of parents begged them to do so because of a picture of horribly peeling paint. The district tested more than 100 sites for lead paint, but not the one place the group of parents asked them to. The facilities director lied about it being tested and lied about the result of the test that did not take place and five months later after his first very public lie was exposed, the paint was finally tested. Numerous areas in the school were identified as positive for lead paint. Thankfully the area of horribly peeling paint which, by the way, spans an entire wing on each of two floors, was not positive for lead. Inexplicably, at the next BOE meeting, the liar was praised like the second coming.
There are miles of copper pipe with lead solder in that building. The 2004 Ruck Pate report says the plumbing is in dismal condition. We also have a lead access pipe at May Whitney, so all the water that enters that building from the municipal water source has to flow through a lead pipe. Given these facts and that there are countless - and I do mean countless water stained ceiling tiles in that building, there exists a significant risk that the solder will break free & contaminate the water -continued
robert
4:14 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011
I am petitioning to have my property taxes lwered(20 year resident) of which 2/3 go to the school district. In my neighborhood are 4 homes in foreclusure and several more for sale; Obviously those in foreclosure are NOT paying taxes; this is happening all over town
So please tell me, us, us, where are you going to get the $ for whatever you have planned;
And if you have a plan, why not run yourself for the school board instead of criticicizing and presenting nothing concrete
This town does NOT have the cash; Send your children to private school and you will have a choice
just wondering
6:01 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Ventilation- Ruck Pate said the ventilation in the current May Whitney building does not have the capacity to properly ventilate the building. The building 's ventilation is not up to code and does not have to be because the building is grandfathered. The incidents of Childhood asthma are growing by leaps and bounds. The EPA has said as many as 13% of all elementary school children could have asthma. The experts have not said there is anything "wrong" with putting 530 elementary school children in a building that we do not have the capacity to properly ventilate, but is that the right thing to do?
Mold - as I am sure you are aware the unoccupied May Whitney building is completely contaminated with mold. I will not go into the circumstances upon which the public was made aware of that contamination because it only makes me seethe with anger, but we have placed a sheet of plastic over the door to prevent air flow between the two buildings. That plastic along with the fact that the building is negatively pressurized is something, but did anyone ever consider the impact of cross contamination from the rodents and roaches in that building. Yes, there are rodents and roaches in that building. Do the rodents and roaches know that they are not supposed to travel back and forth between buildings because there is a piece of plastic over the door? continued
just wondering
6:02 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
The IDPH has repeatedly told us that we need to regrade the areas around the occupied May Whitney. They have said the grading is leading to moisture intrusion and can in turn lead to mold growth. We have repeatedly ignored them and have never regraded the areas they said need to be.
Jim, I could go on. Please let me know if you want me to.
Carolyn, thank you for all your hours of work on this issue. As we have all seen, it is so easy for these concerns to be shelved. I truly appreciate all your effort to keep the dialog going.
Jim
12:51 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011
Yes, I know all about the RuckPate Studies. Would you like to borrow my copy?
I also know that there was a context to each issue that is missing from a simple reading. Read the various state manuals and regulations, all of which are available through the State Board of Education, Capital Development Board and the various state regulatory agencies.
As to all the past Life Safety Reports, I would love to see any you have other than the RuckPate and Regional Superintendent's annual inspections. The reason that I ask is that the District, Region and State could not find any previous Decennial studies. The Decennial process was generated out of my concerns over the condition of the buildings. We (me and others before they became Board members) insisted that the information be made readily available in each of the schools as well as the District office. That included a complete series of documents by reference.
I am not an apologist for the Board, either. There are many (past and present) who think I'm a pain in the .... I just don't like the sniping about how people are intentionally putting your children at risk, or that they cannot disprove a negative.
I appreciate the concerns and hope they are brought forward. I know that most involved take them very seriously. They are doing the best they can with the available resources.
Jim
4:54 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011
Robert,
Just as a point of understanding - Foreclosed homes still pay property taxes. That's why banks insist on escrow accounts, just so the property taxes do get paid when a mortgage defaults.
Without it, the property could be sold for delinquent property taxes and the bank would lose its collateral (the property).
Your frustration is well-founded.
robert
4:59 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011
I have not had an escrow account in 20 years
Only those who purchased a home with less than 25% down have escrow accounts
I work in the mortgage dept of a bank and we do NOT insist on escrow accts and nor do my competitors: and whilst the taxes are eventually paid, they are NOT paid on time; foreclosure across the street went unpaid for 3 years