What You Should Know:
Candidates were invited to submit information for your consideration.
Why You Should Care:
Please review and if you agree with their positions on issue, then maybe this is the person you will want to support.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GLEN ELLYN
CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
This biographical information was summarized from information provided by the candidates.
The responses to the key issues are as they were submitted by the candidates to the following question:
In your opinion, what are three key issues facing the board to which you are seeking office?
GLEN ELLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT 41 BOARD CANDIDATES
DREW ELLIS
Drew Ellis has been a resident of District 41 for 40 years. He is married and works as a banking executive. Drew has been involved in a number of community organizations including the Glen Ellyn Jaycees and the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Financial- It is my firm belief that the Board of Education should seek new perspectives when Assessing the policies that affect our district. All children in the district are entitled to the best academic opportunities. I believe that we can continue to achieve that goal at the same time being good stewards of our resident’s tax dollars. While it may be a delicate balance, we must weigh the needs of the district as well as the needs of the communities it serves. Decisions made by the board need to consider and encourage trust. The board should seek to develop strong relationships with the community and consider the long term implications that its decisions have on its constituents. I believe that the district should have realistic financial goals and encourage the input of the board members in monitoring its finances. My 25 years of banking experience and strong financial background will serve as a valuable tool to the district while on the school board.
2. Calendar- As a resident of District 41, currently without children in the district, I am not directly affected by the SIP day issues and how they affect the day to day schedules of families in the district but do feel that there should be more continuity with educational time. I do not remember getting very many days off when I was at Forest Glen or Hadley. Have times really changed that much? We should try to assure the best use of time for the teachers on the days that they are paid for teaching. Both the Board and the administration would agree that we need to do a better job with the calendar and SIP days.
3. Facilities- I strongly support the work of the, community infused, Master Facilities Planning Task Force that under took the study of the facilities question. I feel that their options, suggestions and insights should be carefully reviewed in implementing a best solution to the facilities question. The District’s implementation of a best solution to the facilities question, regardless of reconfigured existing facilities space or additionally constructed facility space should rely heavily on the Master Facilities Planning Task Force’s work. These facilities questions are not new to the District and facility issues date back to the first District schoolhouse constructed at Stacy’s Corner in 1841. I believe the answers the facilities questions will be solved by balancing the continuity education with a need for flexibility and the appropriate leveraging of our tax payer resources to implement the best solution.”
TERRA COSTA HOWARD
Terra Costa Howard has been a District 41 resident for 11 years. She and her husband have three children. Terra is an attorney practicing in the areas of juvenile law and real estate. She was elected to the District 41 School Board in 2005 and currently serves as the board president. She serves on the Illinois State Bar Association Child Law Section Council, the DuPage County Bar Association Children’s Advocacy Committee, and the Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Evaluations Committee. She is active in PTA, Girl Scouts, and the Glen Ellyn Junior Women’s Club.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Implementation of Hadley New Horizons and curriculum changes within the district.
2. We will need to control expenditures in this economy with a projected decrease in tax revenue.
3. The board will need to continue to address the issue of a long term solution for overcrowding at our schools. The Master
Facilities Committee recommendation will need to be evaluated by the board.”
JACK KAHLER
Jack Kahler has been a resident of District 41 for 5 years. He is married and has two children. Jack is a business owner and operations management consultant. He has served on the District 41 Master Facilities Planning Steering Committee, the District 41 Visioning Committee, and the District 41 Boundaries Committee.
KEY ISSUES:
“1.District 41 deserves excellent schools. The most immediate issue facing D41 is improving educational results for 2009 and onward. D41 failed to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) last year, and this deficiency reflects on the quality of our schools and on the community as a whole.
2. Now that revenues are expected to decline, we must get better value from our tax dollars. Every dollar spent must be an investment with a tangible return. This doesn’t mean we should lower expectations; on the contrary, we must raise our expectations and deliver on them with innovation, efficiency and value. This vision must come from the Board of Education.
3. Unfortunately, many D41 residents view the Board and Administration as fiscally immoderate and out of step with community priorities. Restoring the community's confidence and support is critical to the District’s successful operations.”
JOHN KENWOOD
John Kenwood has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 13 years. He and his wife have three children. John is vice president and management/systems consultant for a consulting firm. He has served on the District 41 School Board for four years and has been its vice president for two years. He is active in his children’s athletics and school events.
KEY ISSUES:
1. “Financial challenges over the coming years
2. Continuing to raise the bar on educational standards to compete in the global economy
3. Building trust with the community in the BOE
4. Master Facilities Planning”
DAN SMITH, JR.
Dan Smith has been a District 41 resident 5 ½ years. He is a program manager for a company that designs and manufactures exercise equipment. Dan and his wife have two children. He is active in his church and in PTA.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Finances-the district revenues have increased significantly over the past 7 years. Property taxpayers are shouldering a large portion of this burden. Along with this increase in revenue have come increased expenditures. As a result of our current economy, the amount of money the district can expect to receive will be significantly less than what has been expected in previous years. The district will need to work closely with the board to weather this financial storm that is upon us. The board needs to work with the district to prioritize their budgets and see how they match up with the expected decrease in revenue.
2. Facilities-The district has added a number of portables over the years with some of them now approaching 8 years old. Even though the enrollment has been fairly flat the past couple of years, federal and state requirements have caused the district to set up more and more specialized learning spaces, pushing students into portables. No one believes this is a long term solution. The board need to first look at existing space utilizations and make sure it is being used efficiently. Only after that is done can the board begin exploring adding on to existing spaces. The district needs to develop a permanent solution that the community will support.
3. Trust and Community Involvement – Although it has been 8 years since the phased in referendum was passed, the community still has a trust issue with the board. Some believe this affected the rejection of the referendum in 2007. Regardless of the reasons, the board needs to ensure the next time they go to referendum it will pass.”
COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 89 BOARD CANDIDATES
GLEN GLAUDELL No information was submitted.
MIKE NELSON No information was submitted.
JODY SELENICA No information was submitted.
FRANK ZAK No information was submitted.
GLEN ELLYN PARK DISTRICT BOARD CANDIDATES
RON AUBREY
Ron Aubrey has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 19 years. He is married and has five children. Ron is founder and president of RJ Aubrey Investment Corp and RJ Investor Relations Services. He has been a Glen Ellyn Park District Commissioner since 2004. He is the founder of the Make a Memory Foundation, active in his church, and a member of the Prairie Club Conservation and the Glen Ellyn Youth Center.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Financial oversight of the Park district’s operating budget and long-term capital expenditure programs during this very difficult economic time. I remain actively involved with other local government entities and constantly looking for ways to save tax payer money by jointly meeting our resident’s needs with new programs or services.
2. The Park District is responsible for 29 parks and over 322 acres of open space for multiple uses. The challenges and opportunities are to safeguard these open spaces while at the same time, balance the increased needs of the community’s ever changing priorities for use of this space.
3. Even though I’ve voluntarily served as Board Commissioner for over 5 years, there are still some things left to do, such as completion of: our Ackerman Sports Complex Churchill Nature Center museum w/new restoration and educational programs; launching Safety Village; Madonnari on Main 3D sidewalk chalk art festival; and the final phase of Mary Knoll family park.”
MELISSA CREECH
Melissa Creech has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 9 years. She is married and has two children. Currently, a stay-at-home mother, Melissa was a high school teacher and administrator. She organized efforts to save Ackerman Woods and organized a clean-up of Ackerman Woods.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Fiscal Responsibility: I am concerned that the Park District is unprepared to deal with falling housing values and the impact this will have on Park District revenues. The current plan to deal with this situation is to raise tax rates. It is unacceptable to increase tax rates during these hard economic times. The Park District must control its spending on capital projects and trim down its own budgets before even considering an increase in our taxes.
2. The Need to Listen to Constituents: The Park District must communicate with residents and listen to their needs. During the Ackerman Woods controversy, I saw that Park District Board was slow to listen to what residents said was important to them. If elected, my running mates Jay Kinzler, Julia Nephew and I will change that. We believe that the Park District should survey the community on a regular basis and use that data to make decisions, especially for capital projects.
3. Transparency: I believe that the Park District should operate as transparently as possible. Important documents such as budgets, board packets, policy manuals and long-range planning documents should all be readily available in the Park District website. Long-range planning sessions by the board should be conducted on-site, in the Park District boardroom so the public can easily attend them. If elected, I will work to broadcast all Board meetings either on the local cable channel or via Internet.”
JEFFREY DICKSON
Jeffrey Dickson has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 10 years. He is married and has two children. Jeffrey is a financial area manager for Hewlett-Packard Financial Services. He has served on the board of the Glen Ellyn Travel Soccer Organization and is a coach for his children’s sports teams.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Promote fiscal responsibility that balances the needs of the community with our available resources.
2. Identify common interests with the School Boards and Village Board to leverage our resources for the benefit of all Park District residents.
3. Work to improve communication with the community and volunteers”
JEFFREY M. JOURDAN
Jeffrey Jourdan has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 22 years. He and his wife have two children. Jeffrey is comptroller for a steel service center. He has been a Park District Commissioner for four years and has served as treasurer for one year. His community involvement includes coaching youth soccer, serving as treasurer for the Glen Ellyn Raiders Soccer Club and the Raintree Swim Club, and volunteering at his church.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Completion of Ackerman sports Complex. Stay within the budget if possible.
2. With economic conditions make sure all programs and facilities are priced appropriately and running as efficiently as possible.
3. The board must be good stewards of the tax revenue and program income in order to stay within the budget guidelines in today’s economic hard times.”
JAY KINZLER
Jay Kinzler has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 14 years. He is married and has two children. Jay is a physician. He has served as president of the Danby Woods Home Owner Association and has served on the Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission. Jay has been active in his church, Cub Scouts, Glen Ellyn Youth Baseball, and Upward. He has coached youth soccer, softball, basketball, and baseball.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Need to listen and respond to residents’ needs.
2. The board needs to show fiscal responsibility.
3. Communicate openly with residents and be completely transparent in how they govern.”
JULIA NEPHEW
Julia Nephew has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 6 years. She is married and has one step-daughter. Julia is an adjunct professor of French at Dominican University. She was active in the Save Ackerman Woods campaign and is co-chair of the Bluestem Network for the River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club. She is co-founder and director of a tenant resource center and has served on the advisory board of the Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Fiscal responsibility: The economic crisis in the country will have a negative impact on tax revenues over the coming years. The Park District has many financial commitments which will need to be examined and restructured in order to protect the district’s wide variety of wonderful programs. For example, once the new sports complex at Ackerman Park is completed, its maintenance and operation will add to the district’s obligations. All new projects will have to be examined and evaluated not only for the up front costs, but also for the impact they will have on the district’s day to day operations. It is unacceptable to increase taxes during these hard economic times.
2. Responsiveness: I spent many hours talking with neighbors and attending Park District meetings in support of the trees while working to protect Ackerman Woods. Through this process I became aware of the disconnect between the current leadership of the Glen Ellyn Park District and the residents of Glen Ellyn. The Board has been slow to listen to what residents have said is important to them. If elected my running mates Jay Kinzler, Melissa Creech ad I will change that.
3. Transparency: The operations of the Park District are not transparent or open enough to the residents of the district. It is difficult to get information about specifics of funding, planning and governance of the district. If elected, my running mates Jay Kinzler, Melissa Creech, and I will work to get the meetings of the Board broadcast on the local cable channel and to provide more access to information through the Park District website.”
KEITH R. SCHOEN
Keith Schoen has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 54 years. He is married and has three children. Keith is semi-retired from insurance sales. He has been a Park District Commissioner for 20 years and has served as president. He has served on the Glen Ellyn Long Range Plan Commission and has been president of the Glen Ellyn Rotary Club. Keith coached Glen Ellyn Girls Softball and supports the Western DuPage Recreation Association.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Completion of successful Ackerman Project including the land acquisition.
2. Churchill project – nature center and museum
3. Maryknoll – Safety Village, amphitheater”
BILL TAYLOR
Bill Taylor has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 28 years. He is married and has three children. Bill is senior project manager for Patrick Engineering/Albin Carlson and Company. He has been a Park District Commissioner for 4 years and served as its president last year. Bill has served as a house captain for Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago and as a member of the District 41 Vision Planning Process 2008. He is a volunteer for PADS and the KaBOOM community playground builders, and is active in his church.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Given the current economic situation, the Park District must continue to give its residents a good value for their dollar. It has already done this but now more than ever must evaluate each and every program when it comes to establishing fees.
2. As our population ages, we must promote equal recreational opportunities to this segment of our community.
3. Continued acquisition of properties available to turn into recreational or open green space.”
GLEN ELLYN VILLAGE PRESIDENT CANDIDATES
GARY FASULES
Gary Fasules has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 51 years. He and his wife have two children. Gary is the director of sales and operations for American Hotel Register. He served as a Glen Ellyn Village trustee from 1995-1999 and was the trustee liaison to the capital improvements, police pension fund, and architectural review commissions. He is a member of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce and has been president of the Glen Ellyn Media Foundation. He has served on the District 41 Technology Advisor Committee and the District 87 Strategic Communication Action Team.
KEY ISSUES;
“1. Budget deficit- The most important issue facing Glen Ellyn is the budget deficit. This is critical since it is basically the Village’s policy statement for any given year. The board needs to specifically address the funding issues pertaining to pensions. To address the pension issue the board and village must work with the Illinois Mayor’s and Managers Conference to lobby Springfield and work directly with our state representatives to educate them on the effects of our pension obligations on community budgets. My goal is to balance our current deficit while not raising taxes and not eliminating any village staff. This is a tall task but I believe it can be accomplished by cutting non-essential programs in the short term and temporarily lowering the reserve policy limits below the 25% policy if necessary. We must also look to utilize private sector concepts within our village to eliminate costs in our transportation, energy, and physical operations. Finally, we must look to the 2010 census as a way to close our budget deficit. An accurate census will ensure that we receive the funding we deserve for infrastructure and education
2. Local Business development/stimulus- We must make it a priority that the village becomes a partner to local business by providing business owners what they need to succeed. Under my leadership the village will take a proactive approach in economic development. We will seek creative ways to provide Glen Ellyn businesses the short term stimuli they need. This could come in the form of website development assistance and training, or a Glen Ellyn rewards card program. The village must also welcome and carefully examine proposals for granting businesses incentives to help offset lost sales in the months to come. Finally, the village is investigating long term efforts to revitalize the downtown through the Downtown Study. I support these efforts and will work to implement those ideas we are fiscally able to do and which provide benefit to multiple organizations in our community. However, our initial priority is to focus on the more immediate needs of the businesses in Glen Ellyn. We must bring different village organizations together to promote a cohesive front for sustaining and growing Glen Ellyn businesses in the future.
3. Key issue three: Safety services- To maintain the safety of our residents I will make sure that we provide them with world class police, fire, and emergency care services at all times. History has shown that crime increases in tough economic times, Glen Ellyn will not be immune to this trend and the rapid spread of urbanization we see around us. Therefore, we must provide our police force with the latest technology and equipment to fight urbanization’s risks, and make sure they are fully staffed at all times. Similarly, our volunteer fire department and emergency medical services must be given sufficient resources to meet the needs of our growing community. Despite the projected budget deficit, we must make sure that these key core services are never compromised.”
MARK PFEFFERMAN
Mark Pfefferman has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 37 years. He is married and has two children. Mark is the director of business intelligence for TransUnion, LLC. He served as a Glen Ellyn Village trustee from 2003 – 2007 and as a College of DuPage trustee for 6 years. He is currently a member of the District 89 Citizen’s Advisory Counsel and chair of the College of DuPage Business Leader Advisory Counsel. He has served on the Park View Site Counsel, and been a member of the DuPage Executive Network Advisory Counsel and the Career Services Advisory Council. He is active in his church and is a PADS volunteer.
KEY ISSUES;
“1. Creating a trusted partnership between the residents of our community and their government. This takes two forms. The first is transparency: ensuring all appropriate decisions are made in public during open, televised meetings. Glen Ellyn village government needs to use the collective intelligence of our residents, village staff, business partners and the board in developing the best solutions for our community. Issues should be discussed collaboratively with in terms of pro and con rather than a rush to support or defeat an entire proposal. Proactive discussion of important or sensitive "elephant in the room" issues would be encouraged.
2. The other form of creating a trusted partnership between the residents of or community and their government is flawless execution of basic services. Residents want, expect and deserve the garbage to be removed, the roads to be in operating order and shoveled, common community property to be well-maintained, power to remain on and Glen Ellyn to be safe. Village government and staff should work together so that these services are "a given."
3 To create a vision for Glen Ellyn allowing the village to reach its full potential. How do we know where we are going unless we define where we want to be? Village government should spend some time leading the effort to define this.
Please note: Glen Ellyn's biggest issue right now is not unlike our nation's and many others' - the economy. Our budget is not close to balancing for the first time in memory. We need to spend the next year analyzing the situation with the help of community experts by forming a Finance Commission. No stone should be left unturned as we look for efficiencies. We need to be much more creative in our approach to fiscal solvency.”
GLEN ELLYN VILLAGE TRUSTEE CANDIDATES
PETER E. COOPER
Peter Cooper has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 16 years. He and his wife have four children. Peter is an attorney. He has served on the District 41 Citizens’ Committee: Future Decisions and as co-chairperson of Fund Our Future. He is a volunteer for PTA and PADS.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. The Board must prudently manage all expenditures based on our decreased revenues. The board should limit the imposition of any home rule tax, and clearly define and communicate the basis for imposing a tax.
2. The Board must adopt a strategic plan for redeveloping and revitalizing the downtown commercial district, including plans for implementation.
3. The Board must strengthen its cooperation with other local districts and administrative bodies, such as the Park District and school districts, to maximize coordination and cost reductions.”
PHILLIP C. HARTWEG
Phillip Hartweg has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 36 years. He is married and has three children. He works in insurance. Phil has served on the Architectural Review Commission, as vice president of the Glen Ellyn Economic Development Corp and as president of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on the board of the Glen Ellyn Kiwanis, as president of the Central DuPage Kiwanis and as board president of Rainbow Place School and his church.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Developing a prudent economic plan and budget in the Village to get through the present downturn and be able to make progress in the near future.
2. Improve opportunities for Village residents to interact with Village Board and staff easily; improve two-way communication systems.
3. Develop a long term plan – one that’s widely supported and can be prudently financed- for all of Glen Ellyn’s business districts but focusing especially on the downtown.”
CARL L. HENNINGER
Carl Henninger has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 40 years. He and his wife have two children. Carl is a consultant in the supermarket industry. He has served as treasurer and a council member of his church and on the board of the Glen Ellyn Girls Softball Association. He has been an auxiliary police officer in Wheaton and a Hurricane Katrina relief volunteer. Carl has coached youth softball, baseball, soccer, and basketball.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Budget, budget and budget – the Village is being squeezed financially from both directions; rapidly declining revenues and large looming pension expense increases. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that our village has already been managed in a lean, conservative manner. Therefore, any needed cuts in coming years will result in very visible service cuts and reductions. My broad business background, which at one time included managing a $45 million expense budget, and my experience as treasurer of my church, have prepared me well to meet these challenges.
2. Implementing the Downtown Strategic Plan – it will be a challenge, in this tough economic environment, to begin the implementation of the newly developed Downtown Strategic Plan.
3. Openness and Accountability – the new Village Board must strive to obtain sufficient citizen input on all issues. We must consider televising more meetings and to provide citizens with a more straightforward means to express their opinions via email and other emerging technologies.”
GLEN ELLYN VILLAGE CLERK CANDIDATE
ANDREA DRATHS
Andrea Draths has been a Glen Ellyn resident for 21 years. She is married and has three children. Andrea has served as the village clerk for four years.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Budget – revenue sources – cut impacts
2. Downtown strategic plan”
GLEN ELLYN LIBRARY BOARD CANDIDATES
MARK LUGINBILL
Mark Luginbill has been a Glen Ellyn resident for over 50 years. He and his wife have two children. Mark is a manager of corporate real estate for Navistar International Corp. He has served on the Civic Betterment Party Nominating Committee and is active in his church and in Glen Ellyn Boys Baseball.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Effect of recession on library’s revenue base.
2. Long-term repair/maintenance plan for the building
3. Ever-evolving technology”
LINDA RICHMAN
Linda Richman has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 25 years. She is married and has two children. Linda is a social worker. Linda has served on the Glen Ellyn Library Board for eight years and is currently serving as the president. She is active in the Glen Ellyn League of Women Voters.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Maintaining current print and electronic materials
2. Fiscal responsibility
3. Building and maintenance issues”
RANDOLPH SAILER
Randolph Sailer has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 12 years. He and his wife have one child. Ran is an attorney. He has served as a Glen Ellyn Library Trustee for the past four years.
KEY ISSUES:
1. “Development and implementation of long-term capital maintenance and replacement plan for the Library.
2. Adoption and integration of appropriate technology while keeping the welcoming ambience of an old-fashioned library.
3. Providing needed community resources in the context of current economic conditions. “
GLENBARD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 87 BOARD CANDIDATES
Ballot Candidates
YADAV NATHWANI
Yadav Nathwani has been a resident of District 87 for 22 years. He is single. Yadav is a commercial lender and banker. He has been active in Junior Achievement, March of Dimes and the Wheaton Art Fair.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. The School Board and public seem to disagree on the district’s priorities. I hope to act as a liaison if elected to the Board.
2. Going forward the district’s spending habits may have to change. I would like to have the opportunity to examine programs with a fine tooth comb.
3. Create synergies between the groups that make/influence decisions for the Board.”
F. THOMAS VOLTAGGIO
Tom Voltaggio has been a District 87 resident for 47 years. He is married and has four children. Tom is senior vice-president of Environmental Systems Design, Inc. He has served as a board member of Glenbard Township High School District 87 from 1991 to 2003 and from 2005 to the present. He has been on the University of Illinois Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumni Association Board of Directors and served as its treasurer. Tom has served on the Civic Betterment Party Nominating Committee, the Glen Ellyn Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and on his church administrative board.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Maintaining the financial integrity of District 87 in the face of the economic challenges surrounding all of us.
2. School improvement/curriculum development in line with programs already underway, including compliance with No Child Left Behind.
3. Attracting top flight leadership and teaching talent to Glenbard in light of significant retirements in 2009-2010.”
Write-In Candidates
LUKE BAER
Luke Baer has been a resident of District 87 for 17 years. He and his wife have four children. Luke is the president of Bosch Management Services, Inc. and senior vice president of general counsel and secretary of Robert Bosch LLC. He serves on the board of directors of the German American Chamber of Commerce for the Midwest and is currently serving as vice-chairman. He has also served on the board of directors of the Chicago Botanical Gardens.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Whether Glenbard West High School should install artificial turf and if so how to finance
2. How to meet the balanced budget goal of District 87 during a recessionary period
3. Meeting the needs of all students in District 87, including those who are not college bound”
DONALD BIRNS
Donald Birns has been a District 87 resident for 25 years. He is married and has seven children. Donald is the director of payroll and payroll taxes for Robert Bosch, Inc. He has served on the Briar Glen Site Based Board, the District 89 Leadership Board, and as president of his church council. He has coached for Briarcliffe Baseball, Golden Eagles Football, and Briar Glen Basketball, and B. R. Ryall YMCA Basketball.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. How best to utilize the finances available during these tough economic times
2. Final resolution of Glenbard West artificial turf issue – both whether to proceed and how to fund.
3. Making sure the needs of all college and non-college bound students are met”
ROBERT FRIEND
Robert Friend has been a resident of District 87 for 31 years. He and his wife have two children. Robert is a power mechanic for United Parcel Service. He has served on the Lombard School District 44 Board for the past 10 years. He has been vice president and treasurer for Partnership for Educational Progress (P.E.P.), chair of the Illinois Association of School Boards DuPage Division, on the board of the Tri-Town YMCA, and past president and treasurer of the Men’s Club of his church.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Funding – Concern due to low tax cap CPI figure of .1% for 2008 and the increased state and federal mandates. Concern for a potential negative CPI figure for 2009 and the effects on the budget and its impact on the quality and quantity of services to students.
2. Curriculum – To continue to develop a curriculum that encourages a higher graduation rate and equips students for successful adult life after graduation. To continue to coordinate the curriculums of all six elementary feeder districts with the high school district.
3. Open athletic space at Glenbard West – seeking the best options available to create space that meets the needs of the student of that school”
RICHARD HEIM
Richard Heim has been a District 87 resident for 17 years. He is married and has four children. Richard is vice president at Good Samaritan Hospital. He served on the Glenbard Township High School District 87 Board for one year. He has been president of the Glenbard East High School Booster Club and a board member of the Lombard Chamber of Commerce.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Achieving fiscal responsibility to the community while balancing high curriculum for students.
2. Maneuver the ever-changing legislative and political climate at the state and national level.
3. Focus on what’s right for the students and their future.”
PHILOMENA MERRITHEY
No information was submitted.
DON PYDO
Don Pydo has been a resident of District 87 for 25 years. He and his wife have two children. Don is vice president and general manager of business operations for Wirtz Beverage Group. He has been active with the Chicago Soccer Top Talent Program.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Maintain a balanced budget in face of declining economic indicators that will adversely affect school revenue over the next few years.
2. Maintain quality program for students in light of fiscal challenges on the horizon; the Board must work diligently and smartly to avoid the kinds of cuts necessitated by deficits of five years ago.
3. Continue to strengthen curriculum, and respond to demands presented by No Child Left Behind legislation.”
JOHN SNYDER
John Snyder has been a resident of District 87 for 13 years. He has one child. John is the senior manager of a manufacturing business and an adjunct professor of accounting and finance at Benedictine University. He currently serves as a board appointed community representative to the D87 Finance Committee.
KEY ISSUES:
“1. Ensure that D87 maintains a balanced budget – a budget with no year end deficit.
2. While maintaining a balanced budget, ensure that the District’s excellent academic and extracurricular offerings, teaching methods, facilities, and technology to enable D87 to remain competitive with other top west suburban high schools.
3. Fully explore greater cooperation between Park districts, Town/Villages and community groups to best leverage investment in all community facilities.”
TOM STACHELSKI
No information was submitted.
ROSE STELTER
No information was submitted.
