Amy Frantz: Candidate Profile

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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: LibertyvilleWebsite: NAOffice sought: Oak Grove District 68 School Board Age: 43Family: Spouse Jeff Frantz, Children- AJ Frantz 7th grade, Charlie Frantz 6th grade, and Lilly Frantz 2nd gradeOccupation: Family Manager/Freelance Digital Project ManagerEducation: BS Mass Communication, Miami UniversityCivic involvement: Secretary of PTO Board 2012-2013Elected 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, 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?The District has historically provided a very high level of education through great teachers and a nurturing environment for its students. However, the world continues to evolve at an ever increasing pace and as we look to the future it's important to have a long term strategic plan to ensure that our educational approach keeps pace with the world around us. Curriculum selection and implementation will continue to increase in importance as we adopt the Common Core State Standards across all subject areas. These changes must align to the strategic plan for District 68 and must be thoroughly discussed and reviewed by all stakeholders including LHS in order to ensure that our students are successful throughout the stages of their life. Furthermore, we need to continually anticipate rapidly changing technology and how it is utilized in both the classroom, educational testing and home settings in order to make the best selections and technology policies to prepare our students for their future.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.There are two main budget issues that I anticipate we will need to address over the next four years. First and foremost is the fiscal crisis at the state level and the potential impact it may have on the district's funding. Second, the implementation of the Common Core State Standards across all subject areas and the costs involved for the curriculum updates, technology needs pertaining to these changes, and the training and professional development of our teachers. I believe that it is crucial for our long term fiscal health to have a comprehensive strategic plan that will enable us to prioritize our investments, reduce waste and improve operational processes so that we can best meet the needs of our 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?No. I am not nor have any of my direct family members ever been employed by a school district.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups -- teachers, support staff, etc. -- what posture should the school board take? 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 we approach contract talks this spring, I think the School Board needs to take a position of collaboration. Through transparency and open communication, the two parties need to determine what is financially necessary to meet the District's budget requirements. Any proposals or decisions made by the Board need to be thoughtfully discussed and reviewed before asking for concessions from the staff. Facts like comparable teacher compensations from other districts, percentage of compensations in total budget, and anticipated benefit expenses across the next couple years should be used to guide the talks and decision making.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 would not support a large pay increase for anyone in either the public or private sector for the sole purpose of bolstering pension benefits. I believe that salary increases should be proportionate to merit and performance.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Key Issue #1 Creating a comprehensive strategic plan that will drive our vision and decision making process moving forward. Key Issue #2 Designing an operational process for decision making across all areas that aligns outcomes with the strategic goals and vision of the District. Key Issue #3 Defining a clear process for communication that is inclusive to all stakeholders in order to ensure transparency and trust.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The best lesson I learned growing up was if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?If life gave me a do-over, I would turn it down. Every experience I've had has brought me to the place where I am today.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My favorite subjects in school were math and writing. I use both of these subjects in my job as a digital project manager.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Discover what you are passionate about and find a way to do it each and every day in some small way.