Endorsements Galore!!

These are just a few of the many endorsements received by candidates for the Pleasantdale School Board.

We enthusastically support both Kim Barker and Kristin Violante for the Pleasantdale D107 school board.  My husband and I have been residents of Willow Springs for the past 4.5 years.  We have two young children, one who is currently in first grade at Pleasantdale Elementary, and one who will begin kindergarten in the fall.

We have known Kim Barker and her family since we moved to the area.  As a new family to District 107, Kim has gone out of her way to introduce us to other families in the area and make us feel part of the community.  She has made our transition into the District positive and enjoyable.  Kim's excitement for the school district and our community as a whole is both admirable and contagious. We admire her enthusiasm for the social and scholastic well-being for children of all ages.  We find her viewpoints and objectives very respectable, well-researched and accurate.  We fully support and respect Kim's principles for accountability, responsibility and transparancy on the school board.

We met Kristin Violante and her family a few years ago through school functions and community related activities.  Kristin's genuine dedication, passion and concern for our school district is inspiring.  Her desire to make our schools safer and promote fiscal accountability is something we support completely.  We feel that Kristin will bring a fresh prespective to the board, and she will work hard to set policies and promote/support programs that will make District 107 stronger for our children.

In closing, we couldn't pick two better occupants for the Pleasantdale School Board, District 107.

Sincerely,
Gary & Kristin Wojtulewicz

We have known Kim Barker since our boys started attending Pleasantdale Elementary School together six years ago. She and her family are deeply invested in and committed to this community. Kim has a passion for all the kids in our community; this passion manifests itself in her consistent attendance at school board meetings, as well as her pursuit of a greater depth of information (than our district regularly provides) to improve the school's services and standing. It manifests itself in her service as soccer coach and Little League board member.

I trust Kim's judgement because I see her willingness to serve. Pleasantdale School District 107 could benefit from Kim's service on the school board, as she can accurately assess and interpret information without losing sight of the big picture. I believe that Kim will follow through on her campaign's core commitments of accountability, responsibility, and transparency. I think that Kim is a rare individual who equally wants the best for all the kids in this district, not just her own. I believe she will speak for all taxpayers in the district, as well.

We endorse her candidacy for the Pleasantdale School Board, and hope that you will give her every consideration. Thank you,

Erik & Linda Thorell
Willow Springs

Kim Barker would serve the community well as a member of the school board for District 107. As an experienced professional in her field, a long time community volunteer and a parent of young teens Kim brings valuable quantitative skills, analytical abilities and valuable life experiences to the position. She is energetic, capable, and committed and will invest the time necessary to drill down, understand the issues and work through the data to arrive at the best possible decisions for both the children and the taxpayers of the district.

Rosaria Becker
Willow Springs

We have been residents of Willow Springs for over seventeen years. We have three children. Two have graduated from Pleasantdale Middle School and our youngest is in 5th grade at Pleasantdale Middle School.
We are writing this to offer our full support and endorsement for Kim Barker and Doug Gilman as school board members.

We believe that Doug and Kim have the right qualifications plus have a genuine concern for our school system. Both of these parents have childrent currently enrolled in our school system.
We believe these two parents would make a positive addition to the school board.

Best regards,
Jerry and Laura Heath
Willow Springs, IL

Kim Barker is not only the best candidate but the only candidate to fill one of the open spots on Pleasantdale School Board. We feel that she takes the time and effort to learn the issues that affect our children while attending Pleasantdale Elementary and Pleasantdale Middle School. I have known her to address and research many issues to make Pleasantdale a better school for all. She is a champion that has not only tried to make our community a better safer place for our children but a more educated one. I have seen her volunteer at our schools and at our park district year after year. Please do the best thing for our children and our community and place her on our school board. She will be an advocate for all of the family's in our school district. 

Sincerely,
The Kittle Family
Willow Springs

I endorse Kim Barker as a candidate for the Pleasantdale School Board. I moved into D107 10 years ago when my oldest (now 15) started kindergarten at Pleasantdale Elementary School. Although he now attends Lyons Township High School, I still have 3 other sons - 2 in Elementary School and 1 in Middle School. Kim Barker's passion for our schools and our children is unsurpassed. Her insight, her skills, her devotion and her outlook would be an incredible addition to our school district. With proud enthusiasm, I support her for this school board position.

Sincerely,
Renata Stankus
Burr Ridge

My relationship with Kim Barker started in 2006. Kim was my son's first soccer coach atPleasantdale Park District. My first impressions of Kim were just outstanding. She was dedicated, kind and extremely patient coaching Kindergarten soccer. Throughout the years, as a coach I witnessed first hand her enthusiasm for team sports and how she inspired the children to do their best no mater the results.

Throughout the years I have seen her continued dedication not only in coaching local sports, but being an active participate atPleasantdale Elementary and our local community. Kim and I both participated as parent volunteers in boards to help improve our kids educational experience and communication between the school and parents. I have been nothing but impressed with Kim Barker. She goes out of her way to become knowledgeable about topics related to the boards we represented and led the participates to fact based decisions/conclusions on our tasks. She is detailed oriented, organized and verypassionate about the best Pleasantdaleeducation system we could provide our children. I trust Kim and am extremelyconfident that she will represent our community, parents and children in District 107. I wholeheartedly recommend Kim Barker as a member of the Pleasantdale Board of Education.

Sincerely,
Jacqueline Mesec
LaGrange

I am writing in support of my friend and neighbor Kim Barker. Being neighbors, we have spent much time together since her family moved in about 13 years ago.

As a very active parent within the school and community myself, I have seen several friends come and go as School Board Members. In them, I have witnessed the passion and the stressors that come with such emotional viewpoints in dealing with the educational issues of children in our society. I see this same passion in Kim. Over the years, Kim has consistently shown interest in our school by making proactive contributions to facilitate the education of our children. Even before her children were old enough to be Pleasantdale students, Kim had always been curious regarding what and how my kids were learning at Pleasantdale.
Kim is a strong, confident, articulate, highly intelligent, trustworthy, and compassionate woman and professional. I truly believe Kim is the perfect person to support Pleasantdale’s Mission Statement in the development of young people who grow to make responsible choices and excel in life.

Please accept my endorsement that Kim Barker be elected to District 107 Board of Education. She is a unique person with unique life experiences and ideas that would prove an asset to the Board of Education.

Respectfully,
Dina L. Stone
Willow Springs

This note is to show my support for the endorsement of Kim Barker as a candidate for Pleasantdale District 107 School Board.

I believe Kim would be an excellent contributor to the Pleasantdale School Board. She is an advocate for children and education, she is not afraid to speak her mind, and she is clearly committed to volunteering and helping her community with her time. She has my full support as a candidate for the School Board.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sheila Gremer
Willow Springs

The Focus 4 the Future candidates are the right combination of what Pleasantdale School District 107 needs!

The current board has rested on its laurels long enough. Achievement levels are down, expenses are up & they lag behind their competitive set of feeder schools while clinging to an outdated strategic plan.
With sagging property values, it's time to rise to the challenges of a changing demographic, economy & world by providing an outstanding & well-rounded education for our children.

Kim Barker will bring passion, energy & communication experience that our school district desperately needs. Doug Gilman will add business, financial & global expertise as well as a level of fairness & balance to the board. Greg Sengpiel comes with a background in technology, an open mind & a fresh perspective. Kristen Violante will bring knowledge of local government, policy making, public service & a level head to the board.

These candidates are active in the community not just at school, but in sports programs, clubs & neighborhood watch groups. They are cognizant of the tax burden placed upon district residents & will work toward reducing that burden by lowering operating expenses while maintaining high expectations and ensuring a remarkable educational for all children.

Please join me in supporting these candidates & their vision of accountability, responsibility & transparency in order to move our school district forward to focus on the future!

Gina Scaletta Nelson

I am so excited that Focus 4 the Future is running. I know that these 4 can bring some MUCH NEEDED change to our district. Kim Barker, Doug Gilman, Greg Sengpiel, and Kristin Violante defiantly have my vote.

Lori Veroeven

I strongly encourage people to support Kristin Violante, candidate for the Elementary School District 107 Board.

In my role as a trustee with the village of Willowbrook, I have worked closely with Violante and seen firsthand the strong work ethic and professionalism she brings to the job. Since day one in her position as the superintendent of Parks and Recreation, Violante has been extremely motivated to do the best job she can.

As a Willowbrook resident myself, I can say she has listened to the feedback from local citizens and provided excellent programs that suit all ages and ability levels. As a village trustee, I am thankful for her ability to be fiscally conservative and adhere to all village policies and procedures. She is confident, well spoken and a wonderful addition to Willowbrook. I know she will be a valuable asset to the community’s School Board and to the students who attend Pleasantdale schools.

Sue Berglund

Willowbrook

I am confidently writing to you today about Kristin Violante who is running for the District 107 School Board. I know Violante through her work as the superintendent of Parks and Recreation for Willowbrook. She understands the financial constraints municipalities such as Willowbrook face and has therefore worked diligently to provide excellent programs and safe, enjoyable park facilities with an ever tightening budget.

As a resident of Willowbrook, I am happy she is spearheading an effort to create a comprehensive master plan for the Parks and Recreation Department that will guide the entire department through the next five years. I understand the importance of having ethical, intelligent, hardworking, visionaries as part of local, governing boards. I can say without exception that Violante will serve the children and taxpayers well and uphold the highest level of standards the district has come to expect.

Robert Napoli

Willowbrook village president

I am a parent. I like Pleasantdale schools. The school district has earned The Red Apple and other awards which have lead me, and keep me here. The beacon of excellence shines from the committed teachers, administration, and parents. 

Kim Barker is a parent who invests in her community and wants it to continue to shine. I have been impressed mostly with Barker’s unwavering dedication to make things better, not to be satisfied with “ as good as last year” but to improve. Our community and schools need people invested like Barker. She has taken the lead on neighborhood streets/maintenance issues when the city budget was cut back. She also has taken the initiative to investigate concerns about testing and scores — in the vein of making things better. Barker leads through coaching soccer and being active on committees.

I support Barker for Pleasantdale School Board.

Meg Vorpahl

Willow Springs

I would like to endorse Kristin Violante and her Focus 4 the Future running mates Greg Sengpiel, Doug Gilman and Kim Barker. 

Violante realizes the difficult task of shifting staff, students and parents into the rigor of the Common Core. She also understands the importance of early education as each new standard will be an extension of previous learning. Their platform of offering a free full-day kindergarten curriculum and spending more time on each subject will help provide students a great starting point for a rich educational experience and a strong foundation with which to build on. 

I am confident Violnate and her running mates are the best choice for Pleasantdale as Illinois moves into a new set of learning standards.

Sharon Rak

Willow Springs

As the parent of three children in the Pleasantdale School District and a 24-year educator, I am honored to support Doug Gilman for School Board. My own experience as a parent, teacher, coach, and administrator in public schools has afforded the opportunity to witness firsthand the qualities necessary to run an effective school district. 

I have had the privilege of knowing Gilman for the past nine years as a friend, neighbor, coaching partner, and even fellow running mate for the board in 2011. Gilman is a highly organized, conscientious individual. He is very responsible, dependable and loyal. He is one who thinks rationally, questions thoughtfully, and listens attentively. These traits will serve and support our students. Most importantly to me, as a board member for District 107, Gilman will continue to go above and beyond the call of duty while serving our children and demonstrate genuine care for the community of the Pleasantdale. Our community. 

Steve Rockrohr

Willow Springs

High and Low

We have searched high and low and are still trying to find out the campaign platform for D107 school board candidates Mark Mirabile and Mike Hawbaker. Can anyone help us out....anyone, anyone?

Truth

When people don't have a platform to stand on, they begin to tell lies and spread rumors...珍妮弗

Seek out the truth.

Truth allows you to live with integrity. Everything you do and say shows the world who you really are. Let it be the truth. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Pleasantdale School Board Candidate Forum Tonight!

at the Pleasantdale Park District at 7:00 p.m.

Listen, get informed and vote!

Get to know the candidates at: http://lagrange.patch.com/articles/election-2013-pleasantdale-school-district-107-board

Good luck to all!

This is what experience, priorities, and platforms look like!

Candidate KIM BARKER

Residence: Willow Springs
Website: www.d107focusforthefuture.com
Family: Robert Barker, husband, 44; Ryan Barker, 13, 7th grade at Pleasantdale M.S.; Kevin Barker, 10, 5th grade at Pleasantdale M.S.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Millikin University
Occupation: Vice President of Marketing at Collaborative Marketing Group Inc.

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:

I have 18 years of business experience working with Fortune 500 clients, with a background in marketing/advertising, management, finance, research, and public relations. I have served on the Parent Advisory Committee for Grading and Reporting at Pleasantdale. I have also served on the Pleasantdale Little League Board for the last two seasons to help drive the direction of the league including developing and gathering feedback from all families to implement improvements.

Lastly, I have been diligent in attending Pleasantdale School Board meetings over the last 2+ years to learn as much as possible about our district and how it functions and have attended other school district board meetings to help form a comparison.

Why are you running for this office?

The primary reason I am running for D107 School Board is to develop a clear Focus for the Future. The school board is responsible for driving the direction of the district, both through the curriculum and through financial decision-making.

D107’s strategic plan dates back to 2002; we have evolved as a district and a community over the last 11 years and it is time to build upon the foundation that was established by previous school board members. We have significant challenges ahead, such as preparing our curriculum, students and teachers for the Common Core Standards approaching in 2014-2015. In today’s society, children must be well-rounded, critical thinkers who interact well with people from various backgrounds, cultures and countries. I want to be involved in the decision-making process that will ultimately turn the students of Pleasantdale into our country’s leaders.

Last, but my no means least, D107 needs stronger financial oversight by the board; we need to tighten the reigns on spending to ensure that every expenditure will drive a clear benefit for our children.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

My single most important priority when I get elected will be to develop a vision or Focus for the Future that creates a school district that is second to none, prepares our children to be successful in life and enhances the Pleasantdale community. In order to do this, we need to look at improving 3 areas in the district: accountability, responsibility and transparency. Accountability – Creating a stronger connection between the school board and the community by making the board more accessible and directly accountable to the residents of D107, as well as delivering a better return on our educational investments through increased fiscal decision-making. Responsibility – Building on our strong foundation to deliver an even better education for the children of D107 , as well as being more responsible with our spending. Transparency – Promoting greater visibility around decision-making and where we stand in comparison to other LT feeder schools.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

As in business, what sets me apart is that I am very goal-oriented, I take the time to do research to be educated about an issue or topic, I often ask the difficult questions to get to the root of an issue so I can ultimately deliver success and I am a firm believer in measuring ourselves against our competitive set, in this case other LT feeder schools. These are the children that our Pleasantdale students will compete against at the next level and we need a greater awareness of where we stand, whether we are talking about curriculum, standardized test scores, sports programs, technology, etc. I want Pleasantdale to be the best of the LT feeder schools, measured not only by standardized test scores, but also by satisfaction levels of our teachers, parents, and students, as well as an increase in our property values.

How long have you lived in District 107?

My family and I have been D107 residents for 12+ years. We are very proud of our community and have volunteered much of our time to benefit the children of D107.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest strength?

I feel that our biggest strength is the Pleasantdale community. We are very fortunate to have wonderful residents who fund our schools and keep them running well through their significant property taxes. We have strong families willing to spend time to ensure their children are excelling in school. We have amazing teachers who are dedicated to the children of D107 and go the extra mile every day. And we have beautiful facilities for our students to enjoy both in and around the schools, including the Pleasantdale Park District property that both schools use regularly. It is an amazing example of how a community works together.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest weakness?

D107’s major weakness is a lack of a vision for the future of our district. I believe we need a clear focus in a board-led strategic plan (as our last was created in 2002); this plan will filter to the administration, teachers, curriculum and students. It will be the driving force for taking us from a good school district to a great one. A strategic planning process is cumbersome and would require D107 to take a hard look at their strengths and weaknesses in order to map clear, concise and measurable goals – it will be the roadmap for D107’s future success.

In terms of a school district, how would you describe a board that is fiscally responsible? Does District 107 currently have a fiscally responsible board?

I believe that a board that is fiscally responsible does the following:
maintains one year of expenses in reserve
reviews all major school expenditures and conducts a cost-benefit analysis on any new educational programs or expenses
requires that the district’s significant vendor contracts go out to bid to ensure D107 is getting the highest quality service/products at the fairest price
mandates grant applications where applicable to help offset taxpayer costs of major initiatives.
I do believe the current board has done a decent job of maintaining a budget surplus in D107. Though after attending over 2 years of D107 school board meetings, it appears that they are a bit loose with the purse strings and are not as concerned about keeping costs low or expenses in check, because of the surplus. My belief is that D107 could operate much more efficiently without impacting the education of our children. Some lapses in fiscal oversight worry me, such as: D107 incurring Early Retirement Option (ERO) costs of $132,000 for an employee who retired without meeting the eligibility requirements; D107 has spent $40,000 over 2 years on a consultant and were receiving the same information from a testing company; legal fees to manage the board have increased from $900 in 2010 to $11,000 in 2013, and an Elementary School roofing plan which was budgeted at approximately $380,000, with estimates coming in at over $890,0000. I also have not seen or heard of plans to tackle the unfunded pension liability of over $608,000 (check your most recent tax bill) or scenarios of how D107 will manage Illinois pension reform.

–--------–--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Candidate DOUG GILMAN

Residence: Willow Springs
Website: d107focusforthefuture.com
Family: Kim, Spouse, 46; Julia, daughter, 12; Mitchell, son, 10
Education: Hobart College, BA
Occupation: Vice President, Aon

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:

I have over 25 years of business experience; currently I am a vice president at Aon in Chicago where I have worked for the past 13 years. In my current role I am responsible for employees working on three continents. Prior to that, I have had a successful career as a corporate executive and a management consultant. I have worked in multiple functions and have acquired significant experience in Information Technology, Finance, Marketing and Strategy.

My experience has taught me that accountability and transparency are critical to the success of any organization. I believe strongly that these principals can and should be applied to the D107 School Board.

Why are you running for this office?

We need to make education a priority in our community and invest in our children. Thus far the district has done a good job improving test scores and maintaining fiscal health. The next board can do more; we need to implement a comprehensive curriculum that enables our children to be critical and creative thinkers. We need to increase the financial security of the district to survive state pension reform and position the district to not only adapt to common core standards, but to excel. Ultimately we need to restore a focus on the future.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

Accountability: We need to establish a school district that is accountable to the residents of the district. It must operate in a highly transparent fashion and seek to engage our parents and taxpayers in a constructive manner. Financial decisions must yield good returns in terms of financial results or educational improvement. Education decisions must yield tangible improvements to our children’s ability to succeed in high school, college and the workplace.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

Throughout the course of my business career, I have always been held accountable for both revenue and expenses. I expect that every investment should be justified and must achieve its expected return. I believe that the school district needs to be held to these same standards. In addition, as an employer I have seen how a good educational foundation can translate into success in the workplace and what skills are needed to be successful. Finally, I have experienced first-hand the competition that our children will face in the global economy.

How long have you lived in District 107?
9.5 years

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest strength?

The community. We are blessed to live in a close-knit community with great children, committed parents, terrific teachers and residents who value a great education and consistently support our schools in good times and bad.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest weakness?

The board and the school administration have become disconnected from the community. Accountability and transparency have slowly diminished over the past several years. This has resulted in high operating costs, several curriculum false starts and a general sense that being average is ok.

In terms of a school district, how would you describe a board that is fiscally responsible? Does District 107 currently have a fiscally responsible board?

In my opinion, fiscally responsible includes; maintaining a surplus that is sufficient to support the district during lean years, doing everything possible to keep costs low without compromising its core mission, and making sure that every investment has a return, either in terms of a financial or educational return. Bottom line, it means that the board closely scrutinizes major investments and holds the administration accountable for expenditures and investments. It goes without saying that all financial decisions must be made in a fully transparent manner.

The current board has done a reasonable job of being fiscally responsible. They have maintained a good, though not optimal surplus. They have openly debated large investments and they have kept an eye on expenditures.

They have fallen short by not demanding accountability for all major expenditures, nor have they pushed the administration to lower operating expenses. They have agreed to large technology investments in recent years that have proved to be inadequate. They did not set an expectation that the technology would be integrated into the curriculum. They have also failed to consistently hold the administration accountable for financial errors. For example, we incurred a $132,000 pension expense due to an administrative error, and we have spent $40,000 on a statistical consultant even though we were already getting the same service for free from another provider.

Other concerns that have not been dealt with by the current board;

$600,000 unfunded pension liability (per Cook County tax bill)
No open discussion of how to handle Illinois’ plans to transfer pension responsibility to the individual districts
Runaway board legal fees … increase from $900 per year to over $11,000 in two years
One of the highest operational costs per student, amongst the LT feeder schools (per Illinois Interactive Report Card)
–--------–--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Candidate GREG SENGPIEL

Residence: Burr Ridge
Website: www.d107focusforthefuture.com
Family: Tammi M. Sengpiel, wife; Ava W. Sengpiel, daughter, 12; Dylan G. Sengpiel, son, 9
Education: BSBA – Finance and MIS – University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ
Occupation: General Manager, Americas – Original Software, Inc. Westmont, IL “Commercial Software Sales; B2B Enterprise Software”

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:
Business man, Leader, Parent, Tax Payer

Why are you running for this office?

As a parent of two children in the district, I am compelled to give back to my community of my time and experience. I am passionate about education and child welfare. I believe that our children are the future of our society and democracy. I want to give all of my life experience back to them without any expectations of remuneration.

I have over 25 years of expertise in information technology. I believe the future of education will advance rapidly through the effective use of technology. We can extend education beyond the classroom and make learning a part of every child’s daily life activities. We can use technology to make learning fun, challenging and rewarding. I plan to bring my knowledge and expertise to the board for leadership in IT decisions.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

My single most priority as an elected board member is to honor the responsibility empowered to a board member. I shall be diligent in attendance and participation and I will bring a fair and balanced approach to board decisions.

My commitment to the board is to bring a competent and informed position on policy; and to represent the district tax payers while supporting the administration in executing their duties.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My belief is that I am a good listener and a compassionate leader. I am someone who values the input of others, but who is unafraid to make the tough decisions. Board participation is about compromise and encouragement. There will inevitable times when decisions are split and I must vote with my conscience for what I believe is the right thing to do.

How long have you lived in District 107?

My wife Tammi and I moved into Burr Ridge, D107 in 1995. We have been involved with the school district since 2006.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest strength?

I believe the people in the community are the biggest strength of the district. There are many passionate families who care very much about their children’s education and hence; they are willing to volunteer their time to support the administration. The district has great resources and when they are sufficiently allocated the return on the resources should produce “passionate learners” and future leaders.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest weakness?

I believe that all elected officials should have term limits and allow other members of the community to offer their contributions. The current board has largely been in place for several terms. I believe that a new board will leverage the good things from the previous board(s) and bring new ideas and energy for those issues which require new attention.

In terms of a school district, how would you describe a board that is fiscally responsible? Does District 107 currently have a fiscally responsible board?

I believe that transparency is essential for fiscal responsibility. The taxing and spending of public money is a great responsibility for government. I believe we need to fund education sufficiently to teach all learners in the district. The board must review federal and state guidelines for education and maximize the income opportunities and eliminate waste from the expenses.

I believe that we need to extract the greatest percentage of budget revenue and apply the expense toward direct educational investments. These investments include great teachers, safe facilities, positive learning environments and educational tools for teachers.

My opinion of the school district fiscal responsibility is continuing to develop; however, in my research, I have exposed questions on certain expenditures that do not seem reasonable and may not fit with my vision on fiscal transparency.

–--------–--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Candidate KRISTIN VIOLANTE

Residence: Willow Springs
Website: www.d107focus4thefuture.com
Family: Vance, husband; Renna, daughter, 8 and Laine, daughter, 6
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University
Occupation: Superintendent of Parks and Recreation at the Village of Willowbrook

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:
I serve as the Board Secretary for both the Gateway Special Recreation Association and Kiwanis Club of Willowbrook and Burr Ridge. I have also served on the Parent Advisory Council for Standards Based Grading at Pleasantdale School. Finally, I have also volunteered on several PTA committees for the past couple of years.

Why are you running for this office?

The primary reason I am running for this office is I am passionate about my daughters’ education and would like to be part of determining the path their educational futures take. The potential for pension reform and the adoption of the common core curriculum are big issues that will face the Pleasantdale 107 School Board. I feel I can make a difference in helping the district set goals, policies and procedures to address these and other issues. We need school board members who are going to ask the tough questions when they need to be asked and vote on what is best for the kids as well as the community.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

My single most important priority if elected to the Board is to be transparent, accountable and responsible to the tax payers in the Pleasantdale community, as well as the students, parents, teachers and administrators. Overall, I feel the current Board has lost focus of what their responsibilities are due to the lack of respect and distrust amongst themselves. We need to have a Board that is respectful of each other and willing to work together to provide the best education for our children possible.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

What sets me apart from the other candidates is that I have worked solely for government agencies since graduating from college and understand the importance of spending tax dollars efficiently and effectively. I feel there are some current Board Members who have a Fortune 500 mentality and assume government agencies should spend and budget the way Fortune 500 companies do. Although there are some similarities between government and non-government entities, there are differences as well. I feel those who work in the private sector can learn from me as I can learn from them.

How long have you lived in District 107?

My husband and I have lived in the community for seven years. My husband is a proud graduate of Pleasantdale Elementary and Middle Schools as well Lyons Township High School.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest strength?

I believe Pleasantdale’s biggest strength is the teaching and resource staff they have educating or counseling our kids. Not only are they committed to teaching or counseling our children, but they are helping instill social and emotional values that will last our children a lifetime. The teachers, social workers, and other resource teachers are passionate, involved and take an interest in each and every one of their students.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest weakness?

I believe District 107’s biggest weakness is there is no “Focus for the Future”. The district’s strategic plan is over ten years old. Currently, there is no comprehensive plan to enhance the educational future for our kids as well as no specific plan to address future financial issues. We need to set goals that are not only specific, but also measurable. We need a strong plan to lead us into the future.

In terms of a school district, how would you describe a board that is fiscally responsible? Does District 107 currently have a fiscally responsible board?

I believe a school district should have at least one year’s worth of expenses in reserves. The current and past School Boards at Pleasantdale have done a good job of establishing these reserves. I am concerned these funds may decrease as the district faces large expenses such as current and future pension liabilities and/or emergency school repairs. This is why a comprehensive plan is needed, so the district can be prepared for these types of expenses. While I commend the present board for maintaining these reserves, I feel they have been irresponsible in not explaining to the tax payers the rationale behind maintaining these reserves or laying out a solid plan for utilizing this money.

Think Pleasantdale 107 has Prudent Fiscal Management? Think Again!

Did you know that in 2002, Mark Fredisdorf was hired as the superintendent of Pleasantdale School earning a salary of $122,200 and by the end of his contract (click on the blue link or go to http://www.d107.org/media/Administration/FOIA/Superintendent%20Contracts%202000-2012.pdf) will earn over $233,971 in base salary alone? That will be a base salary increase of $111,771 in just 14 years!! That's a 91% increase in salary!

This figure does not include the additional $50,000 PER YEAR he receives in benefits, pension contribution and car allowance. This year alone he will receive over $257,189.00!

This is not a private for profit company, it is a PUBLIC SCHOOL! Who is paying for this enormous salary increase? You and the rest of the taxpayers of school district 107! Not only that, but this is a VERY SMALL school district - only 807 students. Fredisdorf is the highest paid superintendent per student in the area. Look at the graphic below and see who's at the top? This graphic is two years old. Fredisdorf's salary is even higher now and will be going up!


(Graphic credit: La Grange Patch.com May 17, 2011)

Has your salary increased this much? Do you know anyone whose salary has gone up like this? Most employees have had a pay freeze for years now and are struggling to make ends meet.. Even worse, many have been let go and are facing foreclosure or living in homes that are underwater. Yet, your taxes continue to rise. Tax bills arrived in the mail a few weeks ago. Where is most of your money going? Has the value of your home gone up or down?

Are you getting your money's worth? Is this prudent fiscal management?

Two board members have consistently voted against this out of control salary...Karen O'Halloran and Gina Scaletta-Nelson.

Who then is responsible this out of control compensation package you ask? Board members Leandra Sedlack, Lisa Houk, Rick Rigley, Beth Tegtmeier and Mark Mirabile!*

The only incumbent on the ballot for re-election is Mark Mirabile. It's time to say NO to outrageous spending and high tax bills by showing him the door!

If you are a voter, please share this with your friends and neighbors so they too can see where their tax dollars are going and who is responsible for the continuous increases. Then, go to the polls on April 9 and  show incumbent Mirabile that you've had enough, by voting for a change in District 107!

*http://www.d107.org/media/Board/minutes-agendas/2012-2013/BoE-2012-12-19-Minutes.pdf
Action No. 26

http://www.d107.org/media/Board/minutes-agendas/2011-2012/BoE2012-06-20_Minutes.pdf
Action No. 62

Please contact the school district to view past minutes of salary increases approved by board member Mirabile and others.

Memo to MF

NEUTRAL, NEUTRAL, NEUTRAL....

Stay out of the race!

😕

‘I have had enough’ – veteran teacher tells school board

The Answer Sheet by Valerie Strauss

Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 10, 2013

Here is a powerful letter that a veteran teacher wrote and read to the Lafayette Parish School Board, explaining why she is sadly leaving the profession. It sums up many of the complaints teachers have with a school reform agenda that they believe is unfairly targeting them and hurting students too. This was written and tearfully read to the school board by Abby Breaux, who has taught for 25 years in Lafayette Parish in Louisiana. Since she gave the speech, she has been inundated with expressions of support from other teachers.

Here’s her letter:

I feel that we as teachers have really had enough, and that someone needs to finally speak up. My name is Abby Breaux and I have been teaching for 25 years in Lafayette Parish, yet no one in this room knows me because no one here has ever come to the schools in which I’ve taught and just asked me, “What do you as a teacher think?”

I keep hearing statements that only ineffective teachers are leaving the system. This upsets me. Many, and I mean many, teachers like me who have been evaluated as effective and highly effective for many years by their administration are leaving the public schools. These are teachers that have been elected Teacher of the Year, LEF [Lafayette Education Foundation] winners, and many have received other awards. Even more than that, we have played a part in hundreds of thousands of students becoming great citizens and grownups! Teachers have also been criticized for leaving during the year, for interrupting the students learning. But, these teachers have had enough, and many are actually getting physically sick and can’t make it to the end.

Teachers are not the bad guys here. You tell society that we have three months off in the summer and get off at 3:30 in the afternoon. Well, I can tell you for a fact that we work at least 10 months a year. What about all the teachers that either get to school early or stay late? We give up a lot of time for our school children- sometimes our students are getting more time than our families. What about all of us who still after 25 or more years, are working all day and then are working more hours at night? What about all the hours we volunteer to coach, chaperone dances, plan field trips, and sponsor clubs? We stay late after school for meetings and programs, and we are constantly grading papers, at night, on weekends, and even on vacations. We attend in-services for either no or minimal pay in the summer or on weekends. Not to mention all of our OWN MONEY we spend on students. I can’t tell you how many THOUSANDS of dollars I have spent over the years for science and social studies supplies for my classroom alone.
Buying our own paper and ink, team celebrations, class rewards, incentives, classroom decorations, primary sources, books, etc…. And if you think that doesn’t happen. Again, ask a real classroom teacher! So don’t tell me that teachers don’t care!

No one ever really asks us what the real problems are, nor do they ask US how to solve them. You’ve hired people from a state that is #50 in the rankings to fill our positions. I could almost understand if you got someone from a state ranked in the top 10! We have plenty of experience and highly qualified professionals right here in Lafayette Parish. If they are not applying for the job, then the question needs to be asked. WHY?

You make us pilot all of these new programs year after year that have been tried already (just under another name), not worked-and tried again. We keep reinventing the wheel! I hear often that teachers don’t teach any more. We don’t!

You have made us information pushers, test givers, and paper passer outers. LET US TEACH!!! You have taken all of this away. You give us a new common core curriculum that is almost impossible to finish in a year, and now you slide in Compass, new evaluations, JPams, and On Course all in a single year, and all which require more time that we just don’t have. You are setting teachers up to fail. Teaching was once a noble and creative profession. Learning was once fun! If you want kids to stay in school, make them want to come!!!

Our jobs should not depend on two lessons a year. Principals should be able to walk into a classroom any time and do a true evaluation. To tell children that OUR jobs depend on them-well you are giving the students the “upper hand”!

They now have the power and they know it. I have heard some students say that they are not even going to try on the standardized tests. They are even “out” for some teachers and are going to score low on purpose. Many students won’t do their homework or study for tests-WHY? They know they won’t fail because of your policies. You have made it all about “what the teacher needs to do” instead of “what the student needs to do!” HOLD them responsible! Would a doctor lose his job if his diabetic patient didn’t follow their recommendations for losing weight when that patient is hospitalized for his/her choices? Of course not! The educational system is no different. We should not be held responsible for apathy and wrong choices!

If you really want to change one thing in our school system-start with discipline: SIMPLE nothing else, just DISCIPLINE. Follow through from first grade on up to twelfth grade. Be consistent, give consequences. Teachers should not be repeating rules to the same students over and over again. If you would listen to experienced teachers who have good discipline, it works and learning is going on. No fancy programs, no bells and whistles, just the teacher in charge. Stop moving students from school to school. This just dilutes other schools!


You are hiding the problems-NOT solving them! The same students that we saw get away with the “little infractions” over and over, and over again, are the same students that end up in the paper under “local arrests”. We are not here to be popular or please parents, we are here to teach children. Small things like uniforms, gum chewing, and tardies may seem small to you, but to a classroom teacher they are the small things that lead to larger problems like disrespect. If you don’t back us up on these issues, the students know it and lose respect for us. Don’t give in half way through the year, or keep changing things. Follow through. Back your teachers up! You have taken our “power” away. No Discipline=No Teaching-Period!

You have basically taken “morals” and work ethics out of ours schools, yet now our tax money is paying for students to go to private schools where they teach morals and work ethics. I believe we should bring BOTH back to our schools, and this will bring our students back as well.

You want to save one child by not removing them from the classroom or campus because you don’t want THAT child to miss out on learning, but you are doing a TOTAL injustice to the average and above average students who want to learn and know how to behave. The others are NOT learning because teachers are spending their time repeatedly correcting, constantly documenting, meeting one on one, and conferencing with the one child who chooses not to behave. I have about 10 daily behavior plans with only 2 out of the 10 working. Why is this? There is no follow through at home! Teachers work harder than the parents and the child to help that child succeed. If you do not think this is true, again, just ask a classroom teacher!

All teachers are different and that is what makes public education so special. Students get the affection, nurturing, life lessons, and education from each of them over their twelve years. Some experiences will be good, some not so good, but that is called life!!! Children need to learn to cope! They need this skill for the rest of their lives, so they can become good problem solvers on their own and not have everything catered and changed to their every desire. Having their parents just being able to call the central office and have teachers give in to “solve the problem” to make it easier for the child is not a coping skill. You are doing the students and parents a total injustice.

Computers have been an asset in the classroom as a learning tool for students. The school board and state however seem to have incorporated them as tools for teachers to do more meaningless work! We should have computers and laptops for the students to use as resources, not for teachers to type and retype and retype again. You would not want us asking students to redo a project three times and then never grade it. Why do you keep giving us surveys and paperwork that you will never read? A perfect example is our VAM [value-added measures] Evaluations! All of this is taking away from our teaching time!

Is there a reason why we in Lafayette Parish (a parish that has MONEY compared to most) still cannot get enough books for our students in the classroom, yet we have money to waste on silly job positions and in services. This is not just this year or last year; this has been an ongoing occurrence. Teachers should not have to scrape and scramble for books and paper every year! To you this might be minor, but for us, the classroom teachers, this is a major issue and affects morale.

If you think getting rid of experienced classroom teachers is the answer, then shame on you! It takes experienced teachers to help new, inexperienced teachers with the overwhelming burdens of classroom management, helping with background knowledge of the information being taught, and learning how to build relationships with the students and the community that these students come from. There is SO much more to teaching then getting in front of a class and giving a lesson!

Personally, I was hoping to teach for at least 30 years, but because of all these new evaluation policies, fear of retirement issues, and feeling constantly threatened that if I don’t do “this or that” I will lose my job, I and many others have had enough and feel the need to leave. I LOVE TEACHING and never thought this day would come. I love working with kids. You have basically pushed me and many excellent, effective teachers out of the education field or into the private sector with all of your useless paperwork and lack of follow through. I know I may get some “recoil” for what I am saying today, but what I am saying is the truth, and it is something that most teachers say and think every day. Many are afraid to speak up and this is something that I too have been holding in for years because of the same reason. Please, sit down with the CLASSROOM teachers and work with them. But above all, GO TO A CLASSROOM! Don’t choose a “favored, high scoring” school. Go to a struggling school and observe a classroom. Better yet, since you are supposed to be people of “service”, substitute in a classroom. Your eyes will be opened to how difficult it is to do this job on a daily basis.

I am very proud to have worked with the many amazing and hardworking teachers, administrators and staff over the years in Lafayette Parish. We want a positive system and a system that continues to improve as much or even MORE than you. We would really like for you to not only hear us, but make some necessary changes.

Thank you,
Abby Breaux

Pretty Good

Pretty Good
by Charles Osgood

There was once a pretty good student,
Who sat in a pretty good class
And was taught by a pretty good teacher,
Who always let pretty good pass.

He wasn't terrific at reading;
He wasn't a whiz-bang at math;
But for him education was leading
Straight down a pretty good path.

He didn't find school too exciting,
But he wanted to do pretty well,
And he did have some trouble with writing,
And nobody had taught him to spell.

When doing arithmetic problems,
Pretty good was regarded as fine;
Five and five needn't always be 10,
A pretty good answer was nine.

The pretty good student was happy
With the standards that were in effect,
And nobody thought it was sappy
If his answers were not quite correct.

The pretty good class that he sat in
Was part of a pretty good school,
And the student was not an exception;
On the contrary, he was the rule.

The pretty good school that he went to
Was right there in a pretty good town.
And nobody there ever noticed
He could not tell a verb from a noun.

The pretty good student, in fact, was
A part of a pretty good mob.
And the first time he knew what he lacked was
When he looked for a pretty good job.

It was then, when he sought a position,
He discovered that life can be tough,
And he soon had a sneaky suspicion
Pretty good might not be good enough.

The pretty good town in our story
Was part of a pretty good state
Which had pretty good aspirations
And prayed for a pretty good fate.

There once was a pretty good nation,
Pretty proud of the greatness it had,
But which learned much too late,
If you want to be great,
Pretty good is, in fact, pretty bad.

Copyright 2012, The Illinois Loop. All Rights Reserved.

Self Organized Learning Environments: A School in the Cloud

http://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_build_a_school_in_the_cloud.html