Timothy Gillen: 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: Villa ParkWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: DuPage H.S. D88Age: 68Family: Wife and two sonsOccupation: RetiredEducation: Bachelor of ArtsCivic involvement: Member St. Alexanders church and Eucharistic minister; Vice president NARFE chapter # 1771 Lombard , Illinois; Member of Villa Park SALT group; Have attended D/88 nd Village of Villa Park board meetings. Also Captain United States Marine Corps, Postal police officer, Republican judge of electionElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Best possible education for D/88 students Key Issue 2 Recognize student achievementKey Issue 3 Promote sound fiscal policies 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?To provide the best training and coaching so the D88 students are prepared to enter the work and to give them the background to be the best that they can be.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 support tax increases and we need to make the best use of the available funding. Also we need to get money owed by the District by the state of Illinois. We have had a tax increase to provide additional facilities at Addison Trail and Willowbrook schools.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.Unions too often are focused only on salary issues. Teaching experience can be valuable , but salary shouldn't be the sole measure of gaining educational learning for students.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?The district should ask for concessions when ever possible; certainly in the areas of health insurance and pensions. Small increases in salary are possibleIf 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? I would not support an increase in pay to provide a larger pension. Most administrators and superintendents make a sufficient salary and pension for retirement.. They should have funds to invest in their own retirement.