Robert LeFevre: 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: PalatineWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 45Family: Married Two ChildrenOccupation: CPAEducation: Master of Science in Taxation Master of Business Administration Bachelor of Science, Accountancy CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Practitioner Registered Investment AdvisorCivic involvement: Member, Board of Education Township High School District 211 Trustee, District 211 Foundation Member, Fremd High School Booster Club Member, Plum Grove Junior High PTSA Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Member, Illinois CPA SocietyElected offices held: Member, Board of Education Township High School District 211Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Continue stable and sustainable quality education.Key Issue 2 Continue financial accountability.Key Issue 3 Continue to develop school district leadership.Questions Answers What do you think about the shift to the common core standards? How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?Common standards are fine for students who have common goals and objectives. The board of education should have the role of approving a curriculum that is developed by the school district administration based upon goals and objectives that are set by the board of education. The district 211 curriculum is both broad and deep. I have no specific changes to suggest, however, we must continue to assess the demands of our community, the economy, employers, and universities and adapt to changes.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 am very satisfied that District 211 is preparing students for the next stage in their lives. District 211 provides high quality education focused on preparing students for college or for full-time employment. District 211 offers a diverse curriculum ranging from courses where student earn college credit to job skills programs including hospitality, healthcare, and building construction.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax increases?The District 211 budget is balanced. We have spent the past 5 years restructuring and reducing our debt and the tax burden on residents related to this debt. My expectation is that we will continue to have a balanced budget, that is a board of education policy. We will always be challenged when negotiating our labor contracts and we expect to be challenged by changes that may be made to the Illinois pension system. I support a tax policy that attempts to maintain a stable revenue stream and provides good value for taxpayers.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups, do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?As talks come up with various school employee groups I believe the district should ask, expect, and provide for different pay or benefits depending on the value perceived and the cost to provide. Negotiations are always challenging as they involve many people with varying interests. Maintaining a positive environment involves careful consideration of many factors and a give and take where the total contract remains sustainable for the taxpayers and continues a stable education for students.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?If I had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, I would not support a substantial increase in pay to help boost pension benefits. The decision to compensate a superintendent would be based on the value that person brings to the district relative to alternatives that are available. The important issue is not what the superintendent gets in benefits but rather what the district gets in a superintendent.