Brian Weir: Candidate Profile

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: WadsworthWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Gurnee Elementary D56Age: 54Family: Married, three childrenOccupation: Construction Manager, Superintendent Aldridge Electric, LibertyvilleEducation: Graduate Grayslake High School 1974Attended University of Wisconsin at River Falls 1975I.B.E.W. 150 apprentiship 1976 to 1980Civic involvement: Coached youth baseball in Gurnee for 13 yearsElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I would like the opportunity to bring my thirty plus years of construction knowledge to help oversee the construction of the District's new school in Wadsworth to replace Gurnee Grade School on Kilbourne Road.Key Issue 2 Candidate did not respond.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.Questions 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'm very satisfied with the effort that District 56 has made in the last six years since I have been on the board to prepare its students to excel in the next level of their education. I believe we have a responsibility as a district to emphasize the basic skills of reading, writing and mathmematics whenever they are realistic goals for a student. An acknowledgement to each student's individual abilities and potential must be an integral part of that student's educational path.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 do not foresee any budget issues for District 56 in the near future...the District's financial planning efforts have been placed at the highest level of recognition by the Illinois State Board of Education for the past four years. PMA has rated the District's fiscal management as one of the top five in all Lake County school districts and projects that District 56 will remain at the state's highest level of financial recognition for the next five years.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.Candidate did not respond.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?Candidate did not respond.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?Candidate did not respond.