advertisement

Jose Blanco: Candidate Profile

West Chicago Elementary D33

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: WEST CHICAGOWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: West Chicago Elementary D33Age: 49Family: Married to Guadalupe G. Blanco 2 daugthers in Middle School, Guadalupe Lourdes Maria Blanco and son Sebastian Blanco 5th grader at Indian Knoll SchoolOccupation: I am a CAD Tecnician working at a Civil Engineering CompanyEducation: Bachelor's DegreeCivic involvement: 1-I have been working with the Election Commision for the last 2 to 3 years as an election judge 2- Was involved with our school district 33 as part of the Citizen Advisory Council to make a decision of the need of space at our schools and that our best solution was the additon to our middle school3- Was part of a Referendum Commitee to promote an addition to the middle school that was on the ballot for the election on November of 2010 Elected offices held: NONEHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Work for the benefit of our children in our community (district 33) new programs to better educationKey Issue 2 Try to improve our school teaching models for our children, better rooms help out in different ways there will always be room for improvements.Key Issue 3 Try to find more funding from our state and our community and county, for the need of our kidsQuestions Answers How satisfied are you that your district is preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?I feel that our school district has done a great job for the children of our district, there will be always changes for improvements for the kids.What budget issues will the district have to confront? What measures do you support to address them? If cuts are needed, be specific about programs and expenses that should be reduced or eliminated. Do you support any tax increases for local schools?I feel there are budget issues in all the school district and our state. I will suport any measures taken as long we do effect the education of our kids in the community.Is experience as a teacher or support from a union valuable because it suggests educational insights or detrimental because it creates pro-teacher bias? Please clarify whether you have such experience or would accept union support.Do not have such experience and don't know if I would accept union support; it would depend on specific issues.As contract talks come up with various employee groups, what posture should the board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?In our economy, there are big decisions to make and if posible these have to be taken considering first the kids of the district, then our community and employees of the district.If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?During the time I volunteered with the school district as part of the Citizen Advisory Council, I had a chance to know our superintendent Dr. Ed Leman, as a person of his integrity he would not ask for this and I think the Board of Education and our district will approve of this.