Willie Rhodes: 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: Hanover ParkWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Keeneyville District 20 School Board Age: 70Family: Married and have two special needs adult sons.Occupation: RetiredEducation: BA Business AdministrationCivic involvement: Elder in my churchElected offices held: School Board MemberQuestions 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?I am very pleased with the efforts of our district in preparing our students for their next stages. The early childhood initiatives implemented by the school board and administration. The adoption of full day kindergarten and the building of a new childhood center within the district will prove invaluable in preparing our students to meet the new common core standards.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 budget issues that the district has to confront are due to the uncertainty in school funding at the state level. We need to continue to maintain our balance budget philosophy as we have done over the past four years. Maintain real time monitoring of budget cost drivers and assessing their impact on the mission and vision of the district. We need to continue identifying new and creative possibilities to access all available funding from public and private sources. I feel the current school district administration have done a great job in addressing the budget issues according to the resources we were provided. I believe education is a lasting investment and the foundation of the future and we all have a responsibility to all our children, so as one who is retired and lives on a fixed income, I choose to sacrifice and support any tax increases for local schools.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 retired. My wife is retired also and occasionally substitute teaches within the 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?The board should attempt to create an environment for honest discussion and debate in the contract talks, which is non-adversarial. Take a collaborative approach and seek to design mutually agreeable options and compromises that would be good for all parties. I believe as a last resort the district should ask for concessions. However, it is unrealistic to expect employee costs to remain the same as it is now. While I believe that employees ought to receive a good salary, I also believe that they must recognize, and share in the tough choices we all have to make as result of the dwindling state funding. I would support increases in pay or benefits only if it would not jeopardize the district's balance budget financial requirement.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?These leaders oversee and maintain perhaps the most critical infrastructure in our society, our knowledge base. They also, have extraordinary pressure and scrutiny applied to their performance. These salaries are very good, but I don't think they are out of line. I support paying what will attract and retain top people, but I am not in agreement with substantial increases to help boost pension benefits, because these dollars does not directly support the education of our children.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Ensure that the district provide a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our children so they can learn in a positive and secure atmosphere. Be proactive and intentional about preventing and dealing with bullying.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Rep. John LewisWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Caring, sharing, and hard work will lead you to your heart desires.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?When I attended college the first time, I wish I had spent more time on my academics rather than the social aspects.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math was my favorite subject in school and it paved the way for my career in finance, accounting and problem solving.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be your word.