Election Issues: District 113A Candidates on Volunteering, Improving Schools

On March 4, Patch published its , a complete guide to the April 5 consolidated election in Lemont. There you'll find voter information, recent election news and complete candidate biographies.

Before Lemont voters head to the polls, Patch wants to give readers an opportunity to compare where candidates for the School Board stand on key issues. We will publish the questions in separate posts over the next week, along with responses from all nine candidates.

What types of ways have you helped out in the school buildings or what have you done to better the schools?

I have served as the Old Quarry PTO/PTA President since May 2009. As part
of the PTO, I have raised funds for reading programs, News Academics in sixth
grade, Science Weekly Reader in seventh grade and poetry books in eighth grade. We also fund Spring Fling, which this year will focus on anti-bullying. I have been a room mom for my children for the last seven years.

I am one of the founding members of the School District 113A Educational
Foundation. I helped with the Ladies’ Night Out fundraiser, I coordinated the
McDonald’s fundraiser and helped with the Pre-Bowl Bash.

I volunteered during the CITGO turn-around to help raise $10,000 for the band
program.

I served for eight  years — part of it as  president — of the Bromberek School District Board of Education before it merged with the Lemont School District. I have been actively participating on various District 113A committees. I participated on the Facilities committee which considered the building of two new schools on the former Toutora property. I was the co-chair of the District Dialogue committee. Most recently, I participated on the Finance committee since its inception two years ago.

I volunteer two to three hours a week helping children with reading and math. I also assist the teachers with projects.

I have served on the Discipline committee and the Finance committee. I currently volunteer as a mentor at Old Quarry Middle School. I also submitted my name for the open board seat last year.

For the past year I have volunteered as a District 113A Board of Education member. I have spent many hours meeting with district administrators and studying on my own to understand school policies, finances and the Illinois School Code. As a board member I go to meetings prepared to discuss the agenda. I strive to explain my positions clearly, listen to others, then render a decision. As a board member, I think it is important to be prepared and willing to change your position, or bend a little, in order to do what’s best for the children and the community.

I submitted my application for the board position that became available recently. I have routinely attended board meetings over the last year and a half to better educate myself to the board's current situation, and have given input to the board where I felt it to be appropriate. I have supported my wife in her work with the PTA, PTO, Reading Program and duties as Central School website administrator. I have financially supported the many district and community organizations in their endeavors to make our school district a successful one.

I received the PTA Lifetime Membership Award and served as president and secretary. I also booked programs for two years, was the legislative chairman for three years, wrote the PTA newsletter, and ran book fair, gift-wrap sales, Market Day and school supply sales. While PTA president, the District phone directory, school supply program and gift wrap sales were implemented. I have served on the Discipline and the Calendar Committees, the Consolidation Task Force, Gifted Student Committee, Technology Task Force, the Transportation Committee, and the Finance Committee. I have volunteered in the classroom by reading to children and helping them on the computer at different grade levels. I have chaired the Policy Committee for five years and serve on the Insurance Committee. Also, I have served on many committees of parents and teachers used in the administrative hiring process.

I have spent many hours investigating, understanding and finding solutions to our current financial crisis. I’m also very involved in my children’s education, activities, and teacher conferences. My wife also volunteers her time to our schools through the PTO Artistic Expressions program, serves as a reading coach every other Monday and is a head room mom. I have been a youth leader and a mentor to area
youth for more than a decade.

As a PTA member, I authored and ensured the passage of “Amy’s Vision Law” and required eye exams for all students starting school. I’ve also served the past two years as a member of the District 113A Board of Education.

Editor's Note: Each candidate was allowed a maximum 200 words for their response.