Tom Meskel: 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: GrayslakeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Grayslake District 46 School Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Wife (Mary) Daughter Tracie, Son Patrick Daughter Nancy Four Grandchildren - two daughters are teachers.Occupation: Retired educator (math teacher, dept. head,director of Math/ScienceEducation: B.S. (Math) Marquette University M.A. and Ed.S. U of IowaCivic involvement: Board of Foundation 46 (education foundation) for nine years. Served one term on D127 (HS)board. Member of Am. Legion and VFW. Sing with Viking Park Singers (Gurnee. ) Also sing with St. Mary's Church choir (Fremont Center.) Work with Science Olympiad students (Park Campus, and G. Middle School) Recipient of Foundation 46 "Commitment to Education" Award - 2014.Elected offices held: Treasurer, Foundation 46 (seven years.) Board member, Metropolitan Mathematics Club of Chicago.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?In general students are being adequately prepared for high school. I would be very interested in researching the adequacy of preparation for the various high school departments. I would support communication sessions within curricular departments that deal with test data and incoming pretest data from high school teachers.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.We are a 'cash-strapped district.' We may have to deal with redistribution of state aid, and we definitely have items such as roofs and parking lots to maintain. We would also like to offer competitive compensation. A general increase in taxes is very difficult to imagine. For cuts? class size is an area that deals with staffing. However - I strongly support smaller class sizes at the primary level. We will have to continue intensive scrutiny of all aspects of our operations.Should air conditioning be pursued for the schools without it? Please explain why or why not.It should be 'pursued' - which means to be prepared to install when funds permit. However - several other items will receive higher priorities, in my view.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 school board should be totally open with the actual financial status of the district. These are hard times in Illinois, and in this district. At the same time, teachers have the right to fair compensation and benefits. I would not anticipate a string of concessions from the staff.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?Retired from Niles West High School (district 219.) No family member is involved with district 46.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?a Proper implementation of Common Core, and the attendant testing involved. b) Communication with the high school district. c) Emphasis on the early years of schooling. d) Familiarization of teachers/students with new technology. e) STEM related programs.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Angela Merkel, Chancellor of GermanyWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I learned that 'life isn't always fair' - and I can't control that. But I CAN control how I react to whatever happens.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Paying more personal attention to the 'middle students' in a classroom.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Physics (and math.) They make it necessary to deal with long range planning, logical thinking, and perseverance in the face of failure.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Whatever you are - be a good one!