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Scott Zellmann, 4 years: Candidate Profile

Millburn Elementary D24

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: LindenhurstWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Millburn Elementary D24, 4-year termAge: 46Family: Married, two childrenOccupation: TeacherEducation: Bachelor of Art in Education, Trinity International University 1988Masters of Science in Administration of Sport and Physical Education, UIC, 1989Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected 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 My number 1 issue is dealing with the current budget issues that have been pushed into the spotlight in the Millburn School District. I know my experiences in being an involved educator will help me add insight into realizing the impact of some of the difficult choices that may be ahead for the next Millburn School Board.Key Issue 2 I feel the need to look at the school calender. We should be working to try to get as many continuous days of school with as few interruptions as possible. Basically as many five day weeks as possible. I also feel an equal commitment to stay focused on the continuous use, upgrading and implementing of technologies.Key Issue 3 Being a middle school teacher, I would like to help explore and educate the community about middle schools. Does Millburn want to explore the idea of restructuring towards a middle school? If we as a community want to look at this idea, I can and I am willing to help explore it together.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 have a very critical eye towards our students going on and into high school. I am very willing to ask questions about the longitudinal success of Millburn School students as they leave our school system. In the next few years my oldest daughter will be moving into Lakes High School.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?It is very difficult to make sweeping suggestions about cuts. District 24 has some real challenges ahead and I am willing to step up and look into what needs to be done while trying to maintain a very high quality level of education for every student in the system. My experience in education allows me to grasp much of the impact of the potential programatic changes.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.I am a teacher. I know my twenty years of teaching experience will be of value in some very challenging times in the near future.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 Millburn School Board will have to take the stance which best serves the community while keeping the appeal of attracting high quality teachers. Teachers are professionals and need to be treated like professionals in negotiations. The future of contracts will reflect the financial climate of the times.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?I feel a professional educator should be compensated fairly along their professional journey, not at the end.