Mary FitzGerald Ozog: 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: Glen EllynWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Glenbard Township High School District 87 School Board Age: 56Family: Husband James Ozog Son Jimmy Ozog US Navy Glenbard West '05 Daughter Katie Ozog Glenbard West '06 Son Patrick Ozog Glenbard West '11 Daughter Megan Ozog Glenbard West '15Occupation: Executive Assistant, Soli Deo Gloria Inc. Glen EllynEducation: University of Michigan BA Political Science University of Illinois Graduate Program, Urban Planning/TransportationCivic involvement: Village of Glen Ellyn: Zoning Board of Appeals 7 years; Architectural Review Board 6 years. Glenbard West Booster Board; Glenbard West, President Choral Parents Association. Glen Ellyn Friends of the Library Treasurer. Glenbard High School District 87 Board: 2011-current.Elected offices held: Board member, Glenbard High School District 87 2011-currentQuestions 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?District 87 is doing a great job preparing our students for college and careers. In the past few years we have instituted a "More to All" philosophy which has increased the rigor of our academic program for all students. We have eliminated "basic" level classes in all subjects to expose our students to a more challenging curriculum. We are also focusing on the goal of increasing AP enrollment among all of our students. Our students are admitted to the finest colleges in the country. It's also important to note that, all the while, we are dealing with a constantly changing student population. Next year Glenbard North will join Glenbard East as a Title 1 school; Title 1 schools are defined as 40% or more students eligible for free lunch programs. Our other 2 high schools, Glenbard South and Glenbard West, also enroll increasing numbers of students facing low-income challenges.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.For the past 6 or 7 years, after a very bad financial situation caused District 87 to actually cut their school day by one class period in 2005-2006 (when my second child was a senior), District 87, I'm very proud to say, has been operating in the black. In 2013 (the last year figures were quoted) only 5% of all Illinois public school districts were able to make that claim. At this time all of our indicators project that we will continue on this positive path for at least the next several years. Fiscal solvency is the first goal of the current board, and I'm sure it will be the goal of our next board. The major issue we will confront in the next 4 years will be our contract negotiations with our teachers in 2017. I was a member of the 2012 Board negotiating team, and the primary goal of our interest-based bargaining for both sides was the continued fiscal health of the district. I see no reason why that again would not continue to be the goal of both the Board and the teachers. As for tax increases, we operate under the property tax cap. That being said, our State of Illinois funding, while on the rebound, has still not reached the levels of state money we received in 2008; we need to keep our levy abilities where they are in order to fund our responsibilities.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 substitute taught in District 87 for several years, which gave me good insight into our students and their challenges. However, I now work in the private sector. I am not eligible for a public school pension, and no one in my immediate family is a District 87 employee.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?In 2012 I was a part of the Board's negotiating team for our contract with the Glenbard Education Association representing our teachers. We used the interest-based bargaining method, whereby both sides agree on a mutual goal for the negotiations. Our mutual goal in 2012 was the continued and hard-fought-for fiscal health of the District. The union, after presentation of our projected income numbers for the next several years, eventually made concessions on health care and other provisions. Neither side got everything they looked for, but the end result was a FIVE YEAR contract which the District could afford and the teachers could live with. In our next negotiations I fully expect that our mutual goal. continued fiscal health for the district, will be foremost. I cannot predict right now (2 years away from negotiations) what benefits and costs will be on the table, but I certainly hope that the civility which marked our 2012 negotiations will be be repeated.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 was privileged to be part of the team that hired our new superintendent in the first year after my election in 2012. Our new superintendent has been an outstanding leader for our District. We continue to operate with a balanced budget; we have instituted iPads for our freshman; we are increasing our academic rigor. Our teachers will soon receive performance evaluations which consider our students' achievement. We passed a referendum in 2014 which will ensure that we can complete a 10-year capital program to bring our 4 high schools up to a reasonable and comfortable level of facility standards for the 21st-century. That said, I believe our superintendent is fairly compensated for his position and I would not be in favor of any sort of significant end of career increase toward his final pension amount.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?In the past 12 months two policy issues I was especially passionate about have seen a positive resolution. First, the District re-instated the Physical Education Waiver policy. As a parent I had seen first-hand the benefits the PE waiver can have for students to broaden their education and also fulfill college entrance requirements. Illinois is one of only 1 or 2 states which requires 4 years of physical education; increased graduation requirements, as well as the course load expected by top colleges, are good reasons to keep the PE waiver in our policy books. I was against getting rid of it in the first place. I also championed the elimination of class rank for our students; we were late to the table eliminating this measure which, in competitive high schools, actually can hurt some of our most accomplished students. Already I have heard of seniors from the class of 2015 being admitted to Ivy league, Big Ten, and other highly competitive colleges. The next policy discussion the Board will undertake is to discuss our Code for students participating in athletics and extracurriculars. We will seek to standardize our procedures if students are found to be breaking our Code, and clarifying the Code and making sure it is very clear to students who sign it in order to participate in all our extra curricular activities. My most important goal for the next 4 years, of course: the continued fiscal health of Glenbard District 87.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Malala Yousafzai. I think the title "World's youngest Nobel Peace Laureate" says it all. Her fight for all women to be educated is beyond inspiring.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Hard work. No one worked harder than my mother who immigrated to this country from Ireland 60 years ago last year.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have spent even more time with my mother.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Debate and Forensics. (Forsensics as in public speaking competition.) I've used these research and public speaking skills every day of my life since high school.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be kind. "Three things in human life are important: the first: be kind; the second: be kind; and the third: be kind." â#8364;#8226; Henry James