Mary Stith: 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: GenevaWebsite: Mary Stith School BoardOffice sought: Geneva Unit District 304 School Board Age: 59Family: Husband: Herb Children: Elizabeth, Emily, Rebecca, Will all graduates of Geneva High School.Occupation: Retired NurseEducation: BS, Michigan State University, Nursing MN, Louisiana State University, NursingCivic involvement: -Current School Board Member (2003-) -Kane County CASA/Guardian ad litem -Volunteer, St. Peter Parish -Kishwaukee Division Director, Board of Directors,Illinois Association of School Boards - Board Liaison Geneva Academic Foundation - Board Liaison Geneva Coalition for Youth - Board Liaison, Joint PTOElected offices held: Elected: Geneva School Board Member 2003-present Philanthopic: - Past Chair, Geneva Academic Foundation - Past PTO President, Geneva High SchoolQuestions 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?The district utilizes effective transitional strategies to move students along the educational ladder. As a Community Unit School District, our curriculum is on a continuum, Pre-K through 12. The staff understands where the students came from and where they're need to go. They embrace grade, school and district level team planning and professional development to address this. Parent preparation is essential as well andadditional attention is given to parents of students in transition. Forums, orientations, and push out communications are all utilized. The focus is on both transitioning academically and developmentally. The BOE receives yearly updates from staff on the progress our students are making in transitioning and suggested initiatives for those who are struggling. This is an ongoing fluid process. By measurable standards, such as ACT and college/career readiness data, we are doing very well in preparing our students for success beyond Geneva High School. Because of quality staff, involved parents, and community support over 97% of Geneva students graduate, the overwhelming majority continuing their education and training. Anecdotally, we receive a majority of positive feedback from parents and students on how they fared in college. We can always do more. What we need is actual data confirmation that our students have fulfilled the District Vision of becoming "self-directed, life-long learners; effective communicators; complex, creative, and adaptive thinkers; and collaborative workers/citizens". With technological advances/ methodologies, we will be able to seek feedback from past students to assess if the District vision for them has been achieved.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.My priority budget issues are: Addressing increasing long term debt payments to stabilize the tax rate for residents; creating a budget that is fiscally responsible yet adequate for student needs, despite rising operating costs, unfunded state and federal mandates, and uncertain revenues from the state. The district's budget process is yearlong, considering all areas with goals of containment and financial security. Actions taken which I support have included establishment of a finance committee, reductions in operational expenses, creating operating efficiencies, extending our 5 year facility plan to 7 years, utilizing financial advisors and diagnostic tools. Cuts have been utilized, the primary focus being areas outside the classroom. I support debt reduction measures including abatement of excess funds, refinancing, defeasance of future bonds and measured/judicious use of fund balances. Uncertainty in state payments continues, particularly regarding pensions and redistribution formulas. A diminished CPI of .8 will not help. Since 1990, the state of Illinois has imposed over 100 mandates on local school districts, most without supplemental funding. Examples include common core, PERA and numerous operational requirements that are not tied to students. I believe that local boards/citizens need to be proactive with our state on these issues. Allowances for potential shortcomings must be made to remain financially sound. I don't believe anyone supports tax increases. However, I realize that even with reductions, cost saving measures and creative financial strategies, our taxes are predicted to increase until we achieve greater debt reduction, experience economic/residential growth and receive adequate state funding for education.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?No, I have never been an employee of any school district. While I am proud to be the parent of an elementary teacher and speech pathologist in other districts, they do not work for Geneva 304, something which I have insisted on as a current school board member. Those who follow the school board policy discussions know that I am an advocate for a policy which prohibits school board members from hiring relatives. This is not because our families lack talent in the education department, generally it is exactly the opposite; but because as elected officials, I believe it is important to eliminate any suggestion of bias in our decisions.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 believe that the school board should continue to take a collaborative, interest based approach to all contract talks. This approach respects both parties, promotes discussion between parties and yet allows each group to formulate their own priorities. The Geneva School District has given concessions and received concessions from the school employees throughout my time on the board. Every employee group has taken a pay freeze, some multiple, in recent years. At the same time, the Board that I sit on has been interested in addressing work related interests of its employee groups as well. My experience has reinforced my belief that our staff are not solely finance driven, but student driven. It is not surprising in these times that the focus appears to be solely compensation and benefits, which is indeed important, but so much more goes into discussions; recruitment of highly effective staff, professional development, work load, addressing special needs of students, creating efficiencies in scheduling, to name a few. Geneva 304 needs to be competitive and have a positive working environment to secure and retain quality at all levels. Add to that cost of living increases and issues of the economy. Costs will not be able to stay the same, but need to be manageable for the district and community. We are a very successful school district by most educational measures and that comes from team work. Coming to a mutually acceptable agreement is in the best interest of all, most importantly our students.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 substantial increases in pay for our retiring administrators, nor would I support this with teachers. I believe all schools districts to varying degrees have participated in enhancing administrators' and teachers' compensation as they neared retirement. However, while consideration is given to rewarding the work of both retired administrators and teachers, Geneva 304 has never been a leader in this practice and comparatively has taken a moderate approach. At the same time, I want the employees of 304 to have security in their retirement, just as I desire for all retirees in our country. I am always open to discussions about how we can do this in a manner fair to the employee and fair to the taxpayers. The current pension crisis has created concerns for our educators/administrators which is real and not of their doing. In my tenure, I have supported pay increases which I feel are moderate and consider each administrative retiree individually in my decisions. Bottom lineâ#128;brvbar; Our retirement packages need to be sustainable for the District, the community and also for those retirees who have served us well.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?A focus on the social/emotional needs of our students is crucial. We hear it from parents, staff, students and community. I believe in the importance of nurturing in our youth a sense of wellbeing, empathy for others and sound coping behaviors. Our children can't get to the business of learning and developing without attention to this issue. It is key to taking it to the next level academically as well as becoming productive happy adults. A second issue is technology: how to use it, how to fund it and how to best integrate it into our curriculum. Where to focus 1:1 applications, which tools are best, how to appropriate funds are just some of the decisions to be made. There are as many ideas on how to do this as there are devices. This comes at a cost of time, labor and money, involving professional development, research, curriculum design, building the infrastructure and purchasing the right tools for our students. We have an obligation to both students and taxpayers to make thoughtful, well planned decisions in this regard. Lastly we need community engagement! We have an excellent school system not only because of our staff, but because we have a community of parents and non parents who have invested in it. Our duty as elected board members is to provide the best education for our students, according to the desires of our residents. An ongoing focus on communication with the larger community is essential to understanding those desires.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Without a doubt, Pope Francis. He walks the talk. He has strong core beliefs but encourages all to lovingly embrace others no matter their beliefs.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents believed in education, hard work, faith, and service. I was one of five and value how hard they worked to provide for us.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Getting involved with my community earlier. While I've always had a volunteer spirit, it didn't really become a passion until I became a mom.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science. It led me to nursing. I believe it has also helped me to be a problem solver, be research oriented and rely on facts.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be kind to everyone you meet. My best days are those when I remember this advice for myself.