Jeffrey Bard: 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: Vernon HillsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Hawthorn District 73 School Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Wife - Lori Two children. One in Hawthorn Middle School and one at Vernon Hills High SchoolOccupation: Director of Environmental, Health SafetyEducation: B.S. - Engineering and Public Policy - Washington University in St. Louis. MBA - Lake Forest Graduate School of ManagementCivic involvement: Hawthorn District 73 School Board (2007 - present). Vernon Hills Youth Baseball Coach (VHCYAA 2003 - 2010) Vernon Hills Softball Coach - (2010-2012) Boy Scouts Northeast IL Council Properties Committee - (2004-2006) GLSA Soccer Coach - (2004-2007) Vernon Hills Park District Basketball Coach -(2010)Elected offices held: School Board Member 2007 - 2015 School Board President 2013 - presentQuestions 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?Preparing students for the next stage in their lives, and preparing them for their future, is one of the District's major objectives. Our new strategic plan that was completed last year established long-range goals for student achievement, learning, professional environment, partnerships, and resources that are necessary, and the strategies that will be implemented to prepare our students. Our strategic plan will be reviewed annually by the Board and the Administration so that adjustments can be made and we can maintain our focus. We are continuously monitoring student performance, our learning materials, and the delivery methods. The real proof of our success is often seen after students leave our district. While we believe we can continuously improve how we prepare our students, judging by the success of the high schools that Hawthorn students feed into and the feedback we receive from those schools and our students, Hawthorn students are being adequately prepared for the next level.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.The District continues to work to balance district expenses with resource needs and the reality of declining State funding. Working with the Administration over the last few years the Board has approved budgets that reprioritized how our funds are allocated. As a result, we have upgrade our technology tools, increased our annual curriculum budget from $100,000 to $500,000, upgraded or replaced some of our facilities and equipment, next year we will offer full day kindergarten to all of our student at no additional cost. This was done within the existing tax cap that is tied to the historically low CPI that limits revenue. Four year ago I stated that I would not support a tax rate increase. I will continue to work to maintain expense so that we can support our programs without requesting a tax rate increase.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 am not employed by the school district and do not have a direct family member employed by the district. My son has worked for the school district part-time over the summer helping with the summer school and band camp programs on a volunteer and paid basis.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?The Board wants to compensate our teachers, support staff and administrators so that we can attract and retain quality employees. This must be done within the constraints of our revenue sources including State funding, and in a manner that allows us to continue to provide a high level of instruction,improve learning resources including technology, and a quality environment supportive of our learning objectives. We live in a community with high expectations for learning but also with an expectation that the District is fiscally responsible. I believe and hope all groups - the Board, residents, and employees are mindful of the balance that needs to be maintained and hope that we can work together to achieve our learning objectives including implementation of the goals in our strategic plan.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?Past practices that resulted in substantial increases in pay to retiring administrators throughout Illinois are unsustainable with the existing pension liability in the State. The potential exists that all or a portion of that liability may be shifted in the future from the State to local school districts. That could have substantial impacts to our future budgets and the programs that our district and other districts will be able to provide. I do not support substantial increases for Superintendents nearing retirement in order to boost pension benefits.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Our strategic plan includes a vision with high expectations for growth and achievement, and maintaining a learning environment supportive of al of our students and their different learning styles so that each one is prepared and can be successful. The full day kindergarten will make a huge impact in preparing our students at the start of their education. It is important to me to support our quality teachers, staff and administration so they can focus on providing the high quality programs that we offer despite the fiscal and outside challenges that we face.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bill Gates with respect to his Foundation's programs to eradicate problems in the world and his giving away his huge wealth to do so.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Growing up I learned the value of hard work and preparation. To perform your best you need to be prepared and have the proper tools.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I do not spend time thinking about do overs. I try to focus on doing the best I can and learning from my mistakes.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I liked Science because it helped me develop critical thinking skills and question why and how things are the way they are.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always do your best and enjoy what you're doing. If you can say that you did your best then you can take satisfaction in that.