Will Hinshaw: Candidate Profile

Back to Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 School Board

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:BioQA Bio City: PalatineWebsite: www.willhinshaw.comOffice sought: Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 School Board Age: 38Family: Married, three childrenOccupation: AccountantEducation: Bachelor of Business Administration, Accountancy, Georgia State UniversityCivic involvement: Palatine Jaycees, 2014 President Illinois Jaycees, 2015 Administrative Vice PresidentElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?I believe that the district is doing an excellent job preparing students for post-secondary opportunities whether that be colleges and universities, vocational schools, military service or the workforce. I have spoken with families throughout the community who are personally satisfied with the education that their children are receiving from District 211 schools. That said, we must always strive to improve. I believe that a continual focus on utilizing technology in the educational experience and a continual evaluation of the effectiveness of the curriculum will help ensure the district and its students are performing at a high level.Is the current collective bargaining agreement with teachers a good deal for the district? If yes, explain, where you see the district benefitting. If no, be specific about what you don't like and how it should be renegotiated the next time.The current bargaining agreement, negotiated and approved in 2014, shows fiscal prudence on the part of the district with the minimal salary increases negotiated. At the same time, the salaries remain extremely competitive insuring the retention of the high quality of educators that the district has enjoyed.What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases for local schools? Again, be specific.I am concerned about the continual discussion of reallocating state funding for our schools and the impact that such a shift could have on the district. That said, the district is strongly positioned from a financial perspective. I believe that a thorough review of the district's long-term strategy and the financial impact of that strategy is overdue. We should consider what level of financial reserves is appropriate for the district and work to most effectively utilize the district's assets so that we are providing the best possible education to our children while also respecting taxpayer's hard-earned dollars. If there is an opportunity to provide relief to taxpayers via the sale of unused property and determining the appropriate long-term cash reserve level for the district, then these topics should be explored.Are all the high schools in District 211 treated equally, in your opinion? Explain why or why not, or where you think discrepancies lie.I believe that the district has done a good job of treating all schools equally. It's crucial that every student in the district have the same opportunity to learn, grow and become lifelong learners. However, we should not ignore that the populations and needs of those served by schools across the district, or even within a single school, are different. What works for one student population might not work for another. While all students have a right to equality of opportunity, the application of that opportunity should be applicable and beneficial to the individual students.Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?I have never been employed by a school district and neither have any of my direct family members.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?It is important to remember that the school district serves the community. While students and parents benefit directly from the efforts of the district, the community at large benefits as well. The district provides for the future of our community through educating our youth. The impact of the district on the community expands further to community issues, property values, taxes and the perceived desirability of our community to newcomers. Board members should offer thoughtful decision making, taking into consideration the full impact to the community with each decision made.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I am inspired by Pope Francis' ability to bring about change through his rebuttal of many long standing doctrines.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?A good attitude makes any task easier.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wouldn't take a do-over. Each choice that we make in life leads us to where we are.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?An influential teacher led to Spanish being my favorite subject. I went on to study Spanish in college which opened many professional opportunities for me.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always show compassion. Remember that you're good enough. And, spend less than you earn.