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Jonathan Feryance: Candidate Profile

Wauconda Unit District 118 School Board (4-year Terms) (Independent)

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: WaucondaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wauconda Unit District 118 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 41Family: Wife and three Children.Occupation: Senior Systems AnalystEducation: Bachelor of Science, Illinois State University 1997Civic involvement: Relay For Life, PTO Web Page, PTO Fundraising Events, Bulldog Nation Foundation Web Page, Bulldog Nation Foundation Fundraising Events, Moose Lodge, Class Room Volunteer, Cub ScoutsElected offices held: Wauconda Unit School District 118 School Board Member 2011 to present. Present Acting SecretaryHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Our children need a great education. Providing a great educational experience is even more important now in the shadows of our nation's financial crisis. Our children will be the next leaders, taking us forward. I intend to continue working for both the parents and the citizens of District 118, ensuring that students have educational opportunities, becoming lifelong learners, and grow into great leaders.Key Issue 2 Great American educational institutions are the result of parents, families, communities, and educators working together. The District of 118 has a great community, and a great school district. There is always more we can do. As a District 118 School Board Member, I will continue to work together with the community to discover what more can be done to build our schools.Key Issue 3 An increasing number of state and federal initiatives focus on the short term goal of getting higher test scores, but lose focus on other skills, such as critical thinking, creativity and building a desire to learn. As your District 118 board member, I will continue to seek educational balance, and opportunities.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 Core Standards is an initiative I can support. America has had such a national push to teach children to learn what is on a test, (math and reading) that we as a nation have lost creating a deeper understanding of concepts and fostering a love of learning. Our teachers' focus for students should be how to learn, how to analyze, and how to work through problems. The common core standards bring us back to teaching our children how to think, not just memorize. The standards also help bring uniformity to the educational experience students receive across the state of Illinois. Introducing a new system comes with some difficulties but overall it looks to be a great tool our state is implementing. The board of education should play a major role overseeing what our children are taught by supporting our highly qualified individuals who determine our well-rounded curriculum.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 continue to be amazed with the progress my children are making from grade to grade. Their educational experience in District 118 has consisted of caring teachers, proactive staff and a safe environment. I have no reason to think all District 118 students won't be ready after high school for what they want to do in life. At this time, with a tight budget and increased state requirements, I don't see anything more the District could do.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 Wauconda School district works on a cash basis accounting system, much like most households. We spend only what we have. If the state does not change their financial support, our district will continue to do financially well. The District 118 financial stability is due in a major part to the efforts of our staff and administration who have helped resolve possible budgetary shortfalls in the recent past. The inability for our state to provide their continued share of the educational requirement makes the future uncertain. If there is more financial strain put on the district, I would never want to cut anything that is required to build our children's skills. If required to reduce the budget, I would look for changes that have the least impact on education. When it comes to tax increases, the state has much of the control over how we are taxed. The Wauconda school board can't initiate any increases without asking taxpayers. At this time I would not support any tax increase.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?Teachers in Wauconda have already given many concessions over the past years. District administration and support have given many concessions as well. Due to budget cuts teachers have had to purchase many supplies out of pocket. Classroom items such as furniture, computers and video projectors have been purchased by the district PTO. As a School Board Member, I will always look for good financial practices, but I am not alone in this. It has been the staff and community that has played a major role in District 118s' financial position.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?The Teachers Retirement System has a 6% cap on how much of a raise is given when within four years of retirement. This more recent cap requirement provides room for a raise that seems reasonable if a school district can afford the provision.