Brian Weir: Candidate Profile

Back to Gurnee District 56 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: WadsworthWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Gurnee District 56 School Board Age: 58Family: Wife-Lauren, 2 Sons Chris and Casey and Daughter AlisonOccupation: Superintendent for Aldridge Electric, Libertyville, Il.Education: Grayslake High School 1970 - 74 U of Wisconsin, River Falls -1974 - 75 IBEW Local 150 electrical trade school 1975 - 78Civic involvement: School Board Member, District 56 for last 10 years.Elected offices held: District 56 School Board TreasurerQuestions 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?PK-8 education is like the first step we take in life. We will never be able to run if we don't first learn to walk. I have been a member of the District 56 school board for the last ten years, and I have seen first hand how a school board, administration team, teachers and all district employees have worked together to make sure those first steps are solid and stable. I think our district is doing an outstanding job preparing its students for high school and beyond. I don't believe any changes are needed. The processes and policies that are in place now are producing outstanding results.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.A contract agreement with the Teachers Union will need to be renegotiated before the 2016-2017 school year. The district has had a great relationship with the teacher's union in the past and I'm sure this will continue in the future. District 56 has had a balanced budget for the past 10 years that I have been on the school board and I don't anticipate any budgetary issues in the next four.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 neither employed nor retired from any school district. My wife, Lauren, is the Library Aide at River Trail School, which is in District 56.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?I think if the district is in a position financially to negotiate a reasonable increase in pay or benefits to its employees, it should. On the other hand, if the district were not healthy financially, it would make senses for the board to ask for concessions from all of its district employees. You need to operate within your means.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?No, I would not support a substantial increase in pay for a superintendent or any administrator nearing retirement. This is not being a good steward of the taxpayers money.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I have no issues with the direction the district is moving. It is important for me to work together with the other board members to set vision and goals, and measure the success of the district and superintendent against those goals.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Being that I was one of seven brothers and sisters, I learned to be self sufficient.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Not to be afraid to do things because they believe they're not good enough. To believe in themselves.