Gary Oberg: 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: Crystal LakeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Crystal Lake High School District 155 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 66Family: singleOccupation: physicianEducation: B.A.,DePauw University, 1968 M.D., Loyloa/Stritch Medical School, 1972Civic involvement: Member, Board of Education Community High School District #155: 1985 to present. After April 9 election, will be the longest serving board member in District #155 historyElected offices held: Member, Board of Education, Community High School District #155: 1985 to present.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 We need to closely monitor the status of state and federal funding for the schools, particularly how the state plans to deal with the state's huge underfunded teachers pension/retirement issues. If the local taxpayers end up paying for the district's contribution to the retirement fund, this will negatively impact our ability to have adequate funds for our educational programs.Key Issue 2 Despite difficulties with the school's funding sources versus responsibilities, we need to stay focused on monitoring what our students will need for skills for their successful futures and continue our proactive focus on providing always up to date curriculum programs to fulfill these needs.Key Issue 3 We need to continue our proactive policy of ongoing facilities upgrading and maintenance, so that our physical facilities provide optimal support for the district's programs and needs.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?The board should continue its cooperative in tandem interactions with the administration, faculty, and community to always provide as effective an educational experience as possible for our childrens' future needs, using any mandated state standards as guidelines.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?It has always been an ongoing dynamic and proactive policy of District #155 to provide as effective as possible programs for all of our students needs. I believe we have an excellent reputation for success in this endeavor.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?We are coming into difficult financial times for education in Illinois, with the state cutting its share of funding, trying to shift the cost of TRS on to local districts, the taxpayers not supporting any further increases in taxes, etc. The board must carefully examine all of these issues as they unfold, while carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities for the taxpayers' money as effectively as possible.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?It is too early to commit to any particular course of action in this complex arena until more of the cards are on the table for the financial options that will be available to us as this year unfolds.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?It is too early to commit to any particular course of action in this complex arena until more of the cards are on the table for the financial options that will be available to us as this year unfolds.